46-1222a. Legislative counsel; duties. (a) There is hereby established the office of legislative counsel. The legislative counsel shall be appointed by the legislative coordinating council and shall be an attorney in the private practice of law employed by the legislative coordinating council pursuant to a contract entered into by the legislative coordinating council and such attorney.

(b) No person shall be eligible for appointment as legislative counsel unless: (1) Such person has been admitted to practice law in Kansas for not less than five years prior to appointment; and (2) such person is admitted to practice in the federal court. In addition to the foregoing qualifications, in considering a person for appointment as legislative counsel the legislative coordinating council shall investigate such person's experience in legal research, trial and appellate practice and related areas in order that such person shall possess the experience and judgment deemed necessary to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office. The legislative coordinating council shall further make such investigation of a person considered for appointment as will ensure that such person is of high professional standing.

(c) No person who is a member of the legislature and no person who is a member or partner of a firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other business entity of which a legislator is a member or partner shall be eligible for appointment as legislative counsel.

(d) The provisions of the contract entered into by the legislative coordinating council and the legislative counsel shall provide that the legislative counsel may be removed from the position and the contract terminated by a vote of five members of the legislative coordinating council taken at any regular meeting of the council. The legislative counsel shall receive compensation fixed by the legislative coordinating council in accordance with the contract. The contract shall provide for such other matters as the parties to the contract deem appropriate.

(e) Expenditures provided for in this act shall not be subject to approval under any other statute and shall be paid from appropriations for the legislature. No contract made under authority of this act shall require approval under any other statute.

(f) The legislative counsel shall represent the legislature, or either house thereof, in any school finance litigation or other cause or matter as directed by the legislative coordinating council. In cases of quo warranto and mandamus the legislative counsel shall have the same powers and standing in all courts of this state as any county attorney or district attorney has in such attorney's county or in the supreme court and as the attorney general has in any court. When the legislature is in session, either house thereof by its resolution, or both houses by concurrent resolution may authorize the legislative coordinating council to direct the legislative counsel to bring or participate in any cause or action by representing the legislature or either house thereof or the legislative coordinating council in any court of this state or of the United States. When the legislature is not in session, the legislative coordinating council may direct the legislative counsel to bring or participate in any cause or action by representing the legislature or either house thereof or the legislative coordinating council in any court of this state or of the United States in accordance with directions of the legislative coordinating council.

(g) The legislative counsel shall render unofficial advisory opinions upon such legal questions submitted by any member or any standing or special committee of the legislature, all in accordance with policies to be established by the legislative coordinating council. Upon direction of the legislative coordinating council, the legislative counsel shall act as counsel to special committees of the legislature and shall provide investigative assistance, conduct examination of witnesses and participate in committee hearings and deliberations as deemed necessary by the committee chairpersons.

(h) The legislative counsel shall perform such other duties as are directed by the legislative coordinating council.

History: L. 2005, ch. 2, § 9 (Special Session); July 28.