§ 10-3-303 — Bureau of Legislative Research

(a) There is established under the direction and control of the Legislative Council a Bureau of Legislative Research which shall consist of a director to be selected by the Legislative Council and other assistants as may be provided by legislative appropriation. (b) The Director of the Bureau of Legislative Research shall be the Executive Secretary to the Legislative Council and shall attend all of its meetings and keep official records of all Legislative Council proceedings. (c) It shall be the duty of the bureau acting under the direction of the director to: (1) Make studies and investigations, upon direction of the Legislative Council, and secure factual information, prepare reports, and draft legislation as may be required by the Legislative Council or any of its subcommittees; (2) Assist all members of the General Assembly upon request while the General Assembly is in regular session, fiscal session, or special session in drafting bills and resolutions, and making studies, preparing factual information, and by performing other services for members of the General Assembly as may be reasonably requested and which are in aid of the performance of the legislative duties of the members of the General Assembly; (3) Assist all members of the General Assembly when the General Assembly is not in session in connection with any reasonable request in preparing proposed bills or resolutions for introduction in the General Assembly when in session by compiling factual information, making studies, providing legal assistance, and performing other duties which assist members of the General Assembly in performing their official legislative duties; (4) (A) Maintain a limited legislative reference library service for legislative matters, utilizing print material, digital media, and information available through the internet. The bureau shall collect and make available in the most suitable form information relative to governmental subjects that will aid the General Assembly and bureau to perform their duties. (B) The bureau shall cooperate with comparable legislative agencies in other states concerning the availability and exchange of publications in order that the General Assembly might be fully advised of current developments in the legislatures of the various states. (C) The bureau shall maintain files or digital copies of bills introduced at the various legislative sessions that may or may not have been enacted by the General Assembly; (5) Prepare research reports and provide other staff services to the Legislative Council or its subcommittees with respect to studies undertaken by the Legislative Council at the direction of the General Assembly, or either house thereof, or upon request of any member of the General Assembly; (6) Assist the Legislative Council in its study of the budgetary and fiscal needs of the various state agencies and cooperate with the Department of Finance and Administration and other agencies of this state upon direction of the Legislative Council in the preparation of a budget manual reflecting the Legislative Council's budgetary recommendations to each session of the General Assembly; (7) Cooperate with comparable legislative service agencies in other states by exchanging information of legislative interest and participate in conferences or workshops on a regional or national basis organized for the purpose of exchanging information or discussing means and methods of improving services to legislatures and legislators in connection with the performance of their official duties; and (8) Perform any other duties and assignments as may be directed by the Legislative Council or by the General Assembly. (d) The agenda of each session of the Legislative Council shall be prepared by the director under the direction of the cochairs of the Legislative Council, and the agenda shall consist of any proposals as may be submitted by the members of the General Assembly, the Governor of the State of Arkansas, and such other matters as may be suggested by matters of public interest. (e) The bureau is a service agency within the legislative department of government and all members of the General Assembly shall have access thereto. The bureau shall be operated for the benefit of and the assistance to every member of the General Assembly to the end that legislative matters may be coordinated and the General Assembly assisted in its deliberations. The director and all employees of the bureau are declared to be employees of the General Assembly and shall be responsible to the General Assembly. (f) There is established the Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council to be composed of the following members: (1) The House and Senate cochairs of the Legislative Council; (2) The House and Senate co-vice chairs of the Legislative Council; (3) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate or one (1) senator selected by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; (4) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or one (1) representative selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (5) The immediate past Senate Cochair of the Legislative Council or one (1) member designate appointed by the Senate Cochair of the Legislative Council; and (6) The immediate past House Cochair of the Legislative Council or one (1) member designate appointed by the House Cochair of the Legislative Council. (g) (1) The Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council may require the director to report and regularly seek the review and advice of the Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council prior to: (A) Taking actions regarding establishing new, repealing, or changing personnel policies pertaining to employees of the bureau; (B) (i) Taking actions concerning the hiring or termination of staff, staff promotions, and proposed salary changes. (ii) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create an employment contract, any salary obligation, other obligation, or change in employment status of staff of the bureau from an at-will employment relationship; or (C) Establishing new, repealing, or changing any other policies or procedures of the bureau relating to the delivery of services and other matters pertaining to the operation of the bureau, including the annual budget request of the bureau. (2) The Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council may meet and transact business both during a session of the General Assembly and during the interim between sessions of the General Assembly. If during a legislative session the Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council takes action that requires approval by the Legislative Council, the approval may be granted either by the Legislative Council, if authorized to meet, or by the Joint Budget Committee. (h) (1) The bureau may employ outside legal counsel as deemed necessary by the director after receiving prior approval of the Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council. (2) If the Executive Subcommittee of the Legislative Council approves the employment of outside legal counsel by the bureau, no additional approval is required. (i) The director may direct the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State to transfer appropriation between the following in such amounts as are determined to be necessary: (1) The line items within appropriations pertaining to the bureau; and (2) The appropriations made by the operative appropriation act for the bureau. (j) (1) Any adjustments in annual salary rates for employees of the bureau, including without limitation labor market adjustments, merit pay adjustments, or employee retention or recruitment requirements shall be made at the discretion of the director. (2) Salary payments under this subsection shall not be restricted to maximum amounts authorized by law. (3) In order that exceptionally well-qualified personnel may be recruited and retained, Bureau of Legislative Research may exceed the maximum salary levels by no more than twenty percent (20%) for no more than one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of the positions authorized in its operative appropriation act after receiving approval from the: (A) Legislative Council; or (B) Joint Budget Committee, if the General Assembly is in session. (k) (1) The director shall be the disbursing officer for the funds appropriated by the operative appropriation act for the bureau, including the Interim Committee Study Expenses section of the operative appropriation act for the bureau. (2) The director shall appoint a designee who shall serve as the disbursing officer in his or her absence. (3) In the event there is no director, the cochairs of the Legislative Council may appoint a disbursing officer. (l) All expenditures from the appropriations provided by the operative appropriation act for the bureau shall be in accordance with: (1) Procedures established by the Legislative Council; and (2) Appropriate law.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2024, No. 158,§ 9, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by Act 2023, No. 120,§ 8, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by Act 2017, No. 737,§ 11, eff. 3/29/2017. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1150,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015. Acts 1949, No. 264, §§ 5, 10; 1965, No. 500, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 4-621, 4-626; Acts 2005, No. 2100, § 18; 2007, No. 18, § 1; 2007, No. 319, § 2; 2007, No. 665, § 1; 2009, No. 962, § 16.