§ 10-3-201. Legislative findings

(a) It is found and determined by the General Assembly that:

1. (1) There has been a phenomenal increase in the volume and complexity of matters affecting state and local government and affecting the citizens of the state, which must be considered and determined by the General Assembly at each session;

2. (2) The cost of state and local government has increased significantly in the past few years and the General Assembly has the primary responsibility for allocating state revenues to the various agencies, departments, and programs of state government as well as to the various political subdivisions and school districts within the state;

3. (3) It is not possible during the limited legislative sessions for the members of the General Assembly to make the detailed studies and investigations and to give the very important matters coming before it the necessary consideration and deliberation that is essential for it to make decisions in the best interests of this state and its citizens;

4. (4) The great increase in the number, complexity, and magnitude of federal programs and projects which must be administered primarily at the state and local level, together with the unprecedented growth and increase in state programs, projects, and services, and the necessary increases in revenues of the state which provide support for these programs, make it necessary that the General Assembly and the members thereof spend a great deal more time in becoming familiar with the various programs, projects, and services in order that they may properly represent their constituents in those matters when they come before the General Assembly; and

5. (5) In order for the members of the General Assembly to carry out their primary responsibility of making decisions in behalf of the citizens of this state regarding the many expensive but worthwhile programs, projects, and services, and regarding the allocation of revenues to finance the more essential programs, projects, and services and to wisely enact and revise both civil and criminal laws applicable in this state, it is necessary that a system of interim committees of the General Assembly be established whereby the individual members of the House of Representatives and Senate will have an opportunity during the interim between sessions to study and analyze the many problems which will face them at the next session of the General Assembly in order that they will have a proper basis for casting their vote on those matters when the occasion arises.

(b) The General Assembly further finds that:

1. (1) It is essential to a proper and efficient legislative system that adequate professional and clerical assistance and facilities be provided the interim committees of the General Assembly during the interim between sessions in order to facilitate and coordinate the efforts of the various interim committees; and

2. (2) To accomplish this purpose, it is essential that the services and facilities available to the General Assembly be properly coordinated and organized in order to avoid duplication of effort and inefficiency in the legislative department.