Sec. 7. (a) The council shall maintain a bipartisan service and administrative agency for the general assembly to assist it in the performance of its constitutional responsibilities as a separate and independent legislative branch of state government. The service and administrative agency shall be known as the "Legislative Services Agency."

(b) In maintaining the legislative services agency the council shall:

(1) establish the qualifications for and employ such personnel as are required to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter;

(2) employ an executive director, to be charged with the administrative responsibility of all offices, departments, or divisions which the council may from time to time establish, and to serve as chief executive under the council;

(3) adopt rules and regulations governing personnel practices and establishing the rights, privileges, powers, and duties of all employees;

(4) provide for employees to be covered by the public employees' retirement fund; and

(5) establish a pay scale for all employees including the executive director.

Rules and regulations adopted by the council under subdivision (3) are not subject to IC 4-22-2. In those rules and regulations, the council may limit the political activity of legislative services agency employees.

(c) The executive director is entitled to serve as long as he properly performs his duties, but he may be removed at any time upon the affirmative vote of twelve (12) members of the council.

(d) The executive director may submit to the council such reports and drafts of resolutions, budgets, and appropriation bills as may be required for the efficient operation of the council's activities and programs.

(e) The legislative services agency shall perform such bill drafting, research, code revision, fiscal, budgetary, and management analysis, information, administrative, and other services as are requested by the council.

As added by Acts 1978, P.L.5, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1982, P.L.7, SEC.1.