Section 5. Preparatory Committee; Appropriation.--The Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Majority Whip of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Whip of the Senate, the Minority Caucus Chairman of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the House, the Majority Whip of the House, the Minority Leader of the House, the Minority Whip of the House and the Minority Caucus Chairman of the House shall constitute a Preparatory Committee to make arrangements for the convention.
The committee shall have authority immediately following an affirmative vote by the electorate on the question of holding a constitutional convention to lease or otherwise obtain suitable meeting and office space, to purchase or lease office supplies, equipment, books and other publications and other materials necessary for the work of the convention and to hire or engage such secretaries, technical assistants, printers and other employes or consultants as may be deemed necessary for the preparatory work of the convention. The committee shall initiate any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in cooperation with any public or private agencies, including institutes, universities, foundations or research organizations. In so doing, the committee may hold public or private hearings. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents, shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee. The committee may request and shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the State or any political subdivision thereof such facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable to carry out properly its powers and duties. The committee is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign any agreements, and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the provisions of this act. The committee shall also prepare budgets for the holding of the constitutional convention. Such recommended budgets shall be submitted to the General Assembly in sufficient time for the General Assembly to pass the necessary appropriation acts. The members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their service but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The authority of the Preparatory Committee shall expire on December 1, 1967 at 12:00 noon, except to sign documents necessary to obtain payments from the State Treasury for any commitments made under the authority of this section prior to December 1, 1967 and to submit any report to the constitutional convention. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is hereby appropriated to the Preparatory Committee for the purposes set forth in this section.