§23G-3  General purposes of bureau.  Thepurpose of the office of the legislative reference bureau shall be to:

(1)  Provide a comprehensive research and referenceservice on legislative problems for the legislature;

(2)  Conduct impartial research, including legalresearch, as may be necessary for the enactment of substantive legislation,upon request by the legislature, legislative committees, or legislators, or onits own initiative;

(3)  Disseminate its research findings to thelegislature on all research projects undertaken upon the request of thelegislature or legislative committees;

(4)  Secure reports of various officers and boards ofthe State and as far as may be of the states and of the other territories ofthe United States and such other material, periodicals, or books as willfurnish the fullest information practicable upon all matters pertaining tocurrent or proposed legislative problems;

(5)  Secure information for the legislature,legislative committees, and legislators by cooperating with the legislativereference services in the states and with the legislative service conferencemaintained by the council of state governments;

(6)  Maintain a reference library for use by thelegislature and legislative service agencies.  Subject to the prioritiesestablished by the director, reference materials may be made available to thevarious departments and agencies of the State and the general public;

(7)  Draft or aid in drafting bills, resolutions,memorials, and amendments thereto, including committee reports, for thelegislature, legislative committees, and legislators when requested;

(8)  Control and maintain the operations of anylegislative data processing program as may be established;

(9)  Serve, upon request, in an advisory capacity tothe legislature and its committees on all matters within its competencies andresponsibilities;

(10)  Assist, upon request, legislative serviceagencies on matters within its competency;

(11)  Perform the function of statute revision andpublication of session laws, supplements, and replacement volumes; and

(12)  Maintain the public access room established bychapter 21G. [L 1972, c 171, pt of §2; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 8, §2; am L 1996, c174, §3]