Maryland State Government Section 2-10A-04

      (a)      There is a Joint Committee on Welfare Reform.

      (b)      (1)      The Committee consists of 10 members.

            (2)      Of the 10 members:

                  (i)      five shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and

                  (ii)      five shall be members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House.

      (c)      The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them.

      (d)      The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint a Senator and a Delegate each to serve as cochairman.

      (e)      The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee.

      (f)      The Committee shall provide oversight of and study, as necessary, issues relating to the provision of FIP and related benefits and services, including:

            (1)      the provision of food stamps and housing benefits;

            (2)      the provision of medical benefits to the FIP-eligible population;

            (3)      current welfare demonstration projects; and

            (4)      development and implementation of additional welfare demonstration projects.

      (g)      The Secretary of Human Resources, in conjunction with the Secretary of Housing and Community Development and the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, shall:

            (1)      cooperate fully with the Committee;

            (2)      keep the Committee fully informed as to the delivery in the State of FIP and related services; and

            (3)      submit an annual report, subject to § 2-1246 of this title, to the Committee on or before October 1 of each year that incorporates the information described in subsection (f) of this section.

      (h)      The report required under subsection (g)(3) of this section shall include:

            (1)      evaluations of any demonstration projects currently in operation; and

            (2)      descriptions of any plans of the Secretary of Human Resources to establish additional demonstration projects.

      (i)      The Committee shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly on or before January 1 of each year.