Section 12. Authorization of expenditures

1. Notwithstanding any provision
  of law to the contrary, expenditures from appropriations  made  for  the
  legislature for services and expenses of the senate and the assembly may
  include  provision  for  district  offices  for members, acquisition and
  operation  of  electronic   data   processing   and   telecommunications
  equipment,  rentals  and  leases,  materials,  supplies  and  equipment,
  repairs, furniture and  furnishings,  postage  and  shipping,  printing,
  utilities,  travel  expenses  of  officers  and employees and the lease,
  purchase or exchange  of  automobiles  and  utility  vehicles,  personal
  service  and  salary  adjustments  for the officers and employees, fixed
  charges, engineering, architectural  and  other  professional  services,
  alterations,  restoration,  rehabilitation and repairs or any incidental
  work to premises and facilities occupied or utilized by  the  senate  or
  assembly notwithstanding the provisions of the public buildings law.
    2.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, expenditures
  from appropriations made for the legislature for services  and  expenses
  of   the  office  of  lieutenant  governor  may  include  provision  for
  materials,   office   supplies,   equipment,   furniture,   furnishings,
  contingencies, printing, purchasing of books and travel expenses.
    3.  The  senate and the assembly may each accept gifts and grants from
  the federal government and from  public  or  private  organizations  and
  individuals  for  the  purposes specified in subdivisions one and two of
  this section and hold and administer them in accordance with  the  terms
  thereof.
    4.   Notwithstanding   any   provision   of   law   to  the  contrary,
  appropriations made for the legislature for services and expenses of the
  senate shall be paid upon approval of the  temporary  president  of  the
  senate  or  his  or  her  designee  and all services and expenses of the
  assembly shall be paid upon approval of the speaker of the  assembly  or
  his or her designee.
    5.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, services and
  expenses of the legislative health service, legislative library,  legis-
  lative messenger service, legislative ethics committee, joint operations
  of   the   legislative   task   force   on   demographic   research  and
  reapportionment, and contributions to the national conference  of  state
  legislatures  shall  be payable after audit by and on the warrant of the
  comptroller upon vouchers certified by the temporary  president  of  the
  senate  or his or her designee and the speaker of the assembly or his or
  her designee.
    6. Expenditures from all appropriations and reappropriations made  for
  the  support  of  senate purposes in whole or in allocable part shall be
  payable after audit by and  on  the  warrant  of  the  comptroller  upon
  vouchers  certified  by  the temporary president of the senate or his or
  her designee.
    7. Expenditures from all appropriations and reappropriations made  for
  the  support of assembly purposes in whole or in allocable part shall be
  payable after audit by and  on  the  warrant  of  the  comptroller  upon
  vouchers  certified  by  the  speaker  of  the  assembly  or  his or her
  designee.