This provision creates a joint legislative oversight committee, sets its membership and co-chairs, requires an organizational meeting by May 10, 2026, and gives the co-chairs authority to request information and hold hearings.
(a) There is created a Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Rural Health Transformation Program Funds, hereinafter referred to as the committee. The committee shall consist of the Chair of the House Ways and Means - General Fund Committee; the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation – General Fund Committee; three members of the House Ways and Means - General Fund Committee appointed by the chair of the committee, including the ranking minority member of the committee, or his or her designee; and three members of the Senate Finance and Taxation - General Fund Committee appointed by the chair of the committee, including the ranking minority member of the committee, or his or her designee; the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; the Minority Leader of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his or her other designee; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or his or her designee; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker; and a member of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Chair of the House Ways and Means - General Fund Committee and the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation - General Fund Committee shall be co-chairs of the oversight committee. The committee shall hold its organizational meeting by May 10, 2026, and shall meet at the call of the co-chairs thereafter. (b) The co-chairs of the oversight committee, on behalf of the oversight committee, shall have authority to request and receive reports, supplemental information, or data from the Department of Economic and Community Affairs or the administering entity related to the implementation of the programs funded in Act 2026-429 and any other act appropriating Rural Health Transformation Program Funds and to conduct hearings and receive testimony therein related to the implementation of the aforesaid programs.