Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 201 - Legislative Service Office
1. What is the Legislative Service Office (LSO)?
The Legislative Service Office (LSO) is a nonpartisan agency that supports the Wyoming Legislature. This means it helps lawmakers do their job effectively by providing information, research, and administrative support without taking sides politically.
The LSO is like the backbone of the legislature, helping it function smoothly.
2. Main Responsibilities of the LSO
The LSO’s responsibilities include:
Research and Analysis
Conducts studies and research for legislators on laws, budgets, and public policy.
Prepares reports on topics like education, healthcare, transportation, or state finances.
Drafting Legislation
Assists legislators in writing bills, resolutions, and amendments.
Ensures that the legal language is correct, consistent, and follows Wyoming law.
Fiscal Analysis
Analyzes the cost and financial impact of proposed legislation.
Provides estimates of state revenue, expenses, and budget effects.
Legal Services
Offers legal advice to lawmakers and legislative committees.
Reviews proposed legislation to make sure it complies with the Wyoming Constitution and existing laws.
Administrative Support
Maintains legislative records, minutes, and archives.
Provides technological and logistical support for legislative sessions and committee meetings.
Public Information
Publishes summaries of legislation, committee reports, and research findings.
Helps the public understand what the Legislature is doing.
3. Agency 201 in the WAC
In the Wyoming Administrative Code, Agency 201 contains the rules and procedures that guide the operations of the Legislative Service Office. These rules cover:
Organization and Structure
Defines the roles of the Director, legal staff, fiscal staff, and other LSO personnel.
Outlines how the office interacts with legislative committees.
Services to Legislators
Explains how legislators can request research, legal opinions, or fiscal analysis.
Provides timelines and procedures for responding to requests.
Public Access to Information
Rules about making legislative documents and reports available to the public.
Procedures for handling requests for public records under Wyoming law.
Ethics and Nonpartisanship
Ensures that LSO staff remain neutral and provide unbiased information.
Establishes rules to prevent conflicts of interest.
Administrative Rules
Covers hiring, internal policies, office procedures, and reporting requirements.
Ensures the office operates efficiently and transparently.
4. Why Agency 201 Matters
Agency 201 exists to standardize how the Legislative Service Office functions so that:
Legislators receive accurate, timely, and unbiased support.
Public records and information are accessible and transparent.
Legislative processes follow consistent rules and ethical standards.
The office can operate efficiently and legally without confusion.
Without these rules, the LSO could be inconsistent, and legislators might struggle to get the information they need to make laws effectively.
5. Organization of Agency 201 Rules
The WAC typically organizes Agency 201 rules in Chapters and Sections, for example:
Chapter 1 – General Provisions
Definitions, purpose, and scope of the agency.
Chapter 2 – Structure and Responsibilities
Roles of the Director and staff.
Chapter 3 – Services to Legislators
Procedures for requesting research, fiscal analysis, or legal opinions.
Chapter 4 – Public Access and Records
Rules for publishing and providing legislative documents.
Chapter 5 – Administration and Ethics
Internal policies, ethics, and office procedures.
✅ Summary:
Agency 201 – Legislative Service Office in the Wyoming Administrative Code defines how the LSO operates. It ensures legislators have research, legal, fiscal, and administrative support, while maintaining nonpartisanship, transparency, and efficiency. Essentially, it is the rulebook for Wyoming’s legislative support system.
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