The Legislative Council is a committee of the General Assembly established to oversee the administrative affairs of the legislative branch of government. The Council may do the following:
    (1) On its own initiative or at the direction of the General Assembly or of the senate or house of representatives, study subjects of interest and concern, and based on such a study, recommend such legislation as the welfare of the state may require.
    (2) Direct standing committees of the senate or house of representatives, or appoint committees and subcommittees subject to the authority of the Council, to carry out studies on subjects of interest and concern.
    (3) Recommend such codification and general revision of the constitution and the laws of the state as may from time to time be necessary.
    (4) Require any officer or agency, board, commission, committee or other instrumentality of the state or of a political subdivision of the state to provide information bearing on subjects under consideration by the Council or by standing committee or any of its committees or subcommittees.
    (5) By an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of its members present and voting do the following:
        (A) Administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony and have the deposition of witnesses taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions bearing on subjects under consideration by the Council or by any of its committees or subcommittees.
        (B) Petition, through the presiding officer of the Council, any circuit court of the appropriate county for an order for compliance with any order or subpoenas issued by the Council.
    (6) Adopt such rules and procedures and organize such agencies as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out its duties.
    (7) Receive appropriations and make allocations for the reasonable and necessary expenditures of the Council and the standing and interim committees of the house of representatives, senate and General Assembly.
    (8) Enter into whatever contracts or other arrangements deemed by it to be necessary or appropriate to exercising its rights, privileges, and powers and performing its duties.
    (9) Do all other things necessary and proper to perform the functions of the legislative department of government.

The Council is required to do the following:
    (1) Coordinate and assist the work of standing or interim committees, subcommittees or commissions appointed by the Council or at the direction of the General Assembly or of the senate or house of representatives.
    (2) Review the operations, budgetary practices and expenditures of all state agencies, including departments, boards, offices, commissions and political subdivisions.
    (3) Recommend such changes in the rules and procedures of the senate and house of representatives as may advance the consideration of legislation by the General Assembly.
    (4) Work with the standing and interim committees, subcommittees and commissions of

the General Assembly or of the senate or house of representatives to assure efficient utilization of legislative services agency employees.
    (5) Publish such records, schedules, indexes and reports as the General Assembly may require.
    (6) Arrange and contract for the printing of bills, enrolled acts, session laws, journals, the Indiana Code and supplements to the Indiana Code, the Indiana Administrative Code and supplements to the Indiana Administrative Code, the Indiana Register, and the miscellaneous printing needs, supplies and equipment of the Council, legislative services agency, and the General Assembly.
    (7) Provide adequate quarters and office space for all legislative activities.
    (8) Serve as the policy-making board for, and in general supervise the operation of, all staff services of the legislative services agency whether the General Assembly is in or out of session.

The Council shall, upon consultation with the governor's office, develop an annual report format taking into consideration, among other things, program budgeting, with the final format to be determined by the Council.

The Council is also required to 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."