§ 403. Functions; confidentiality
(a) The Office of Legislative Counsel shall provide legal services to the General Assembly
and its staff, including:
(1) drafting bills, resolutions, amendments, and other legal documents;
(2) providing legal research and analysis in relation to current or anticipated legislative
matters;
(3) providing policy analysis of current or anticipated legislative matters;
(4) maintaining a reference library;
(5) maintaining confidential documents and other confidential materials provided to or
generated by the Office in the course of business;
(6) providing contracting and other legal services to the Joint Legislative Management
Committee and other legislative offices; and
(7) furnishing such other information and legal assistance with respect to legislative
matters as may be required by a member, member-elect, committee or similar entity
of the General Assembly, a chamber of the General Assembly, or the General Assembly
as a whole, in the performance of its duties.
(b)(1)(A) All requests for legal assistance, information, and advice from the Office of Legislative
Counsel; all information received in connection with research or drafting; and all
confidential materials provided to or generated by the Office shall remain confidential
unless the party requesting or providing the information or material designates that
it is not confidential.
(B) Any draft of a report or other work in progress generated by or submitted to the Office
of Legislative Counsel shall remain confidential until it has been finalized.
(2) Recordings and minutes of committee meetings, bills and amendments that have been
approved for printing or introduction, and material appearing in the journals or calendars
of either house are official documents and materials and shall not be confidential
under this subsection. (Added 1971, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 31, 1972; amended 1983, No. 88, § 13, eff. July 3, 1983; 2019, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2023, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § E.125.1, eff. May 23, 2024.)