(a) There is created as a part of the legislative branch of government the Georgia Criminal Justice Improvement Council, to be composed of 14 members as follows:

(1) The President of the Senate;

(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) The chairmen of the Judiciary, Special Judiciary, Public Safety, and Corrections, Correctional Institutions and Property committees of the Senate;

(4) The chairmen of the Judiciary, Special Judiciary, Public Safety, and State Institutions and Property committees of the House of Representatives;

(5) Two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(6) Two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The members shall serve for the terms for which they are elected as members of the General Assembly, and any vacancy occurring during such term shall be filled by appointment of the President, in case of Senators, and by appointment of the Speaker, in case of Representatives. Any member shall be eligible for reappointment in the event he continues to be a member of the General Assembly.

(b) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall fix the time, date, and place of the first meeting, which shall be held during the month of July, 1981. At that meeting the council shall elect a chairman and such other officers as it deems advisable. The council shall perfect its own organization, including the establishment of a quorum for the transaction of business. Thereafter, the council shall meet upon the call of the chairman and under such other procedures as the council shall decide. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall fix a time, date, and place of a meeting during the first 30 days of the legislative session in each odd-numbered year, at which time a chairman and such other officers as the council deems advisable shall be elected.

(c) The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive the expenses and allowances provided by law for members of interim legislative committees for attending meetings of the council when the General Assembly is not in session.