§ 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) 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.

(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.)