Each member of the Legislature representing a legislative district within which the proposed railroad abandonment or discontinuance is planned shall recommend to his respective House Transportation Committee or Senate Highways and Transportation Committee chairman, after reviewing such information as is available, whether or not a public hearing should be held to investigate and consider the proposed railroad abandonment or discontinuance. The Chairman of the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Highways and Transportation Committee of the Senate shall then confer with each other and, if the Legislature is not in session at the time, then also with the House Management Committee and the Lieutenant Governor, and then shall call a joint meeting for the sole purpose of investigating and considering the proposed or intended abandonment or discontinuance. Each chairman may, in his discretion, and based upon the recommendations of the legislators representing the districts within which the proposed railroad abandonment or discontinuance is planned, appoint three (3) members from his committee and call a joint meeting for the sole purpose of

s representing the districts within which the proposed railroad abandonment or discontinuance is planned, appoint three (3) members from his committee and call a joint meeting for the sole purpose of investigating and considering the proposed or intended abandonment or discontinuance.Laws, 1980, ch. 360, § 2; Laws, 1987, ch. 314, § 2; Laws, 1998, ch. 318, § 2, eff. 3/12/1998.