Chapter 12
THE SPECIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE AND PROCEEDINGS IN THE COMMITTEE
Article 137
1. The Special Services Committee shall be composed of no more than 9 Deputies.
2. The Sejm, on the motion of the Presidium of the Sejm, shall specify, by means of resolution, the number of members of the Special Services Committee.
3. Candidates for members of the Committee shall be nominated by the chairpersons of the clubs of Deputies or by a group of at least 35 Deputies. Nominations shall be lodged with the Marshal of the Sejm.
4. The Sejm, on the motion of the Presidium of the Sejm submitted in consultation with the Council of Seniors, shall determine, in joint voting, the membership of the Committee.
Article 138
1. The first meeting of the Committee on the Special Services shall be summoned and presided over by the Marshal of the Sejm. At such sitting, the Committee shall elect from amongst its members a presidium composed of a chairperson and no more than two deputies.
2. The Committee resolutions shall be adopted by an absolute majority vote in the presence of at least half of the total number of members of the Committee.
3. The Committee shall specify its manner of operation and procedures for taking decisions.
4. Access by members of the Committee to information comprised of State secrets of the utmost importance for national defence, to the Armed Forces and State security shall be determined by the provisions concerning State or official secrets. In order to authorize access of the members of the Committee to such information, the Marshal of the Sejm shall apply to the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Interior and Administration.
Article 139
1. Sittings of the Special Services Committee shall be held in camera. The provisions of Article 154 para. 1 shall not apply.
2. Joint sittings, held together with other committees, may be open to the public.
3. The chairperson shall invite persons other than those mentioned in Article 153 para. 1 to take part in the sitting of the Committee, via, or after notifying, the Marshal of the Sejm and the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Interior and Administration. Persons invited shall submit a written declaration to the chairperson that they will keep secret any information obtained comprising State or official secrets.
Article 140
In matters concerning the Special Services, the Committee shall participate in proceedings in relation to draft Budgets and other financial plans of the State as well as consideration of reports on their implementation, and shall present its opinion to the appropriate committees.Article 141
1. The minutes drawn up from the sitting of the Special Services Committee and the reports referred to in Article 164 para. 1 and Article 168 para. 1, shall be regarded as comprised of State secrets, excluding the minutes and reports from joint sittings which are open to the public and held together with other committees. The Committee shall submit the minutes and reports to the Marshal of the Sejm.
2. No bulletin shall be drawn up from the sitting of the Special Services Committee. However, a bulletin referred to in Article 166 paras. 1 and 3 shall be drawn up from joint sittings which are open to the public and held with participation of the Special Services Committee.
3. The Committee may issue a communiqué to the press, radio and television concerning the proceedings of the Committee, upon consultation on its contents, where appropriate, with the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Interior and Administration.
Article 142
Subject to the changes resulting from the provisions of this Chapter, the provisions of the Standing Orders of the Sejm shall apply, as appropriate, to the Special Services Committee and to Deputies elected to this Committee. For the purpose of these Standing Orders, the Special Services shall be the Office of State Protection and the Military Information Services.