13.90(1)(L)(L) Determine the method of sale and prices for subscriptions to legislative documents and the operational responsibility for any legislative document subscription services provided under s. 35.87.

13.90(1m)(a)(a) In this subsection, “legislative service agency” means the legislative council staff, the legislative audit bureau, the legislative fiscal bureau, the legislative reference bureau, the legislative human resources office, and the legislative technology services bureau.

13.90(1m)(b)(b) The joint committee on legislative organization shall select the head of each legislative service agency. The appointment of each legislative service agency head shall be made without regard to political affiliation in order to safeguard the nonpartisan character of each legislative service agency. In the case of the state auditor, the joint legislative audit committee shall make recommendations for the approval of the joint committee on legislative organization. The committee shall designate an employee of each legislative service agency to exercise the powers and authority of each legislative service agency head in case of absence or disability.

13.90(2)(2) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization or their designated agent shall accept service made under ss. 806.04 (11) and 893.825 (2). If the committee, the senate organization committee, or the assembly organization committee determines that the legislature should intervene in the proceeding as provided under s. 803.09 (2m), the assembly shall represent the assembly, the senate shall represent the senate, and the joint committee on legislative organization shall represent the legislature. The costs of participation in the proceeding shall be paid equally from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) and (b), except that such costs incurred by the department of justice shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).

13.90(3)(b)(b) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization shall lease or acquire office space for legislative offices or legislative service agencies under par. (c).

13.90(3)(c)(c) The joint committee on legislative organization shall assign office space for legislative offices and the offices of the legislative service agencies. The joint committee may assign any space in the capitol not reserved for other uses under s. 16.835. Except as provided in ss. 13.09 (6) and 13.45 (4) (c), the joint committee may locate any legislative office or the office of any legislative service agency outside the capitol at another suitable building in the city of Madison.

13.90(4)(4) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization shall authorize payment of fees entitling the legislature to membership in national organizations from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (3) (fa).

13.90(5)(5) The joint committee on legislative organization may contract for the services of persons to advise those building commission members who also are legislators on matters related to the state’s issuance of state debt, revenue obligations and operating notes under ch. 18.

13.90(6)(6) The joint committee on legislative organization shall adopt, revise biennially and submit to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information policy and technology, the governor and the secretary of administration, no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year, a strategic plan for the utilization of information technology to carry out the functions of the legislature and legislative service agencies, as defined in s. 16.70 (6). The plan shall address the business needs of the legislature and legislative service agencies and shall identify all resources relating to information technology which the legislature and legislative service agencies desire to acquire, contingent upon funding availability, the priority for such acquisitions and the justification for such acquisitions. The plan shall also identify any changes in the functioning of the legislature and legislative service agencies under the plan.

13.90(8)(8) The joint committee on legislative organization may designate a joint committee or another body within the legislative branch to oversee the provision of information technology support and services by the legislative technology services bureau.

13.90(9)(9) The joint committee on legislative organization may direct the department of administration to take possession of any furnishing to which the department has title under s. 16.838 (2), to restore any furnishing in the department’s possession, if necessary, and to locate any such furnishing at the place in the capitol building specified by the committee.

13.9113.91 Legislative council staff. There is created a bureau known as the “Legislative Council Staff”, headed by a director. The legislative council staff shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of the research and drafting requests received by it. The legislative council staff may call upon any state department, agency or officer, or any agency of any political subdivision, for such facilities and data as are available and such departments and agencies shall cooperate with the legislative council staff to the fullest possible extent.

13.91(1)(1) Duties of the staff. The legislative council staff shall:

13.91(1)(b)(b) As directed by the joint legislative council, gather information and prepare written studies on topics referred to the council by the legislature or which seem desirable to the council.

13.91(1)(d)(d) Provide staff services to assist the legislature in identifying and responding to issues relating to the Wisconsin Retirement System. In the performance of these duties, the legislative council staff shall:

13.91(1)(d)5.5. In consultation with groups representing participants in the Wisconsin Retirement System, suggest to the cochairpersons of the joint legislative council any feasible subjects for study or investigation of public employee retirement issues with respect to which committees may be appointed under s. 13.82.