(1) (a) There is hereby created a legislative emergency preparedness, response, and recovery committee. The legislative committee shall develop a plan for the response by, and continuation of operations of, the general assembly and the legislative service agencies in the event of an emergency epidemic or disaster. The legislative committee shall cooperate and coordinate with the division, the department, and the GEEERC in developing the plan. The legislative committee shall develop and submit the plan to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the governor, the executive director of the department, the director of the division, and the GEEERC no later than July 1, 2011. The legislative committee shall meet at least annually to review and amend the plan as necessary and shall provide any updated plan to the persons or entities specified in this paragraph (a). The legislative committee may recommend legislation pertaining to the preparedness, response, and recovery by, and continuation of operations of, the general assembly and the legislative service agencies in the event of an emergency epidemic or disaster. The legislative committee shall provide information to and fully cooperate with the division, the department, and the GEEERC in fulfilling its duties under this section.

(b) The legislative committee shall consist of eleven members as follows:

(I) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, with no more than one such member from the same political party;

(II) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, with no more than one such member from the same political party;

(III) The secretary of the senate;

(IV) The chief clerk of the house of representatives;

(V) The staff director of the joint budget committee or the staff director's designee;

(VI) The director of research of the legislative council or the director's designee;

(VII) The director of the office of legislative legal services or the director's designee;

(VIII) The state auditor or the state auditor's designee; and

(IX) The director of legislative information services or the director's designee.

(2) In the event of an emergency epidemic or disaster that the governor declares to be a disaster emergency pursuant to section 24-33.5-704, C.R.S., the legislative committee shall convene as rapidly and as often as necessary to advise the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the legislative service agencies regarding reasonable and appropriate measures to be taken by the general assembly and the legislative service agencies to respond to the emergency epidemic or disaster and protect the public health, safety, and welfare. The legislative committee shall communicate, cooperate, and seek advice and assistance from the division, the department, and the GEEERC in responding to the emergency epidemic or disaster.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in section 2-2-326, the members of the legislative committee shall serve without compensation.