There is created a bureau known as the “Legislative Council Staff”, headed by a director. The legislative council staff shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of the research and drafting requests received by it. The legislative council staff may call upon any state department, agency or officer, or any agency of any political subdivision, for such facilities and data as are available and such departments and agencies shall cooperate with the legislative council staff to the fullest possible extent.

   (1)   Duties of the staff. The legislative council staff shall:

      (a)    Provide staff services to the joint legislative council under s. 13.81 and to any of the committees appointed under ss. 13.82 and 13.83.

      (b)    As directed by the joint legislative council, gather information and prepare written studies on topics referred to the council by the legislature or which seem desirable to the council.

      (c)    Perform the functions prescribed in ch. 227 relating to administrative rules and guidance documents.

      (d)    Provide staff services to assist the legislature in identifying and responding to issues relating to the Wisconsin Retirement System. In the performance of these duties, the legislative council staff shall:

         1.    Provide legal and research staff services to the joint survey committee on retirement systems under s. 13.50.

         2.    Prepare fiscal estimates on bills referred to the joint survey committee on retirement systems.

         3.    Facilitate communication between the legislature and participants in the Wisconsin Retirement System on issues relating to public employee retirement systems.

         4.    Every 2 years, prepare a comparative study of major public employee retirement systems in the United States.

         5.    In consultation with groups representing participants in the Wisconsin Retirement System, suggest to the cochairpersons of the joint legislative council any feasible subjects for study or investigation of public employee retirement issues with respect to which committees may be appointed under s. 13.82.

   (2)   Duties of the director. The director of the legislative council staff shall:

      (a)    Supervise and train the personnel assigned to him or her.

      (b)    Supervise all expenditures of the legislative council staff.

      (c)    Attend all scheduled meetings of the joint legislative council under s. 13.81, and may attend meetings of any of its committees under ss. 13.82 and 13.83.

      (d)    Attend, personally or through a professional employee of the legislative council staff designated by him or her, all meetings of the commission on uniform state laws under s. 13.55.

      (e)    Attend and participate in, personally or through a designated employee of the legislative council staff, midwest and national meetings in which the commission on uniform state laws participates and that will benefit the operations of the legislative council staff.