Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 201 - Legislative Service Office
Overview of Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 201 – Legislative Service Office (LSO)
Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 201 refers to rules governing the Legislative Service Office (LSO), which is a nonpartisan office created by the Wyoming Legislature to provide legislative support services. The LSO assists lawmakers by preparing bills, conducting research, providing legal analysis, and drafting legislation.
The key roles of the LSO under this administrative code generally include:
Drafting legislation and amendments.
Conducting policy research and fiscal analysis.
Preparing legislative committee materials.
Assisting with legal research and statutory interpretation.
Providing nonpartisan legal counsel to the legislature.
The LSO operates under strict guidelines to maintain nonpartisanship and transparency in how it supports the legislative process. The administrative code establishes how it functions internally and interacts with legislators and other government agencies.
Key Provisions & Purpose of Agency 201
Nonpartisan Support: The LSO provides impartial, unbiased legislative services.
Confidentiality: Drafting and research work are typically confidential to protect legislative strategy until bills are formally introduced.
Access and Use: Procedures governing who can request services, how materials are disseminated, and how information is managed.
Standards of Conduct: Ethical and procedural standards for employees to prevent conflicts of interest or political bias.
Recordkeeping and Transparency: Guidelines on documentation and public access consistent with Wyoming open records laws.
Important Legal Context
The Wyoming Legislature is the supreme lawmaking body in the state. However, its function is supported by agencies like the LSO, which operate under administrative codes to ensure orderly, lawful processes.
Case Law Illustrations Relevant to LSO and Legislative Administrative Procedures
Though there may not be a huge volume of case law directly about LSO's administrative code, relevant Wyoming and general principles can be illustrated through case law concerning:
Legislative agencies’ authority.
Nonpartisan staff duties.
Confidentiality and open records.
Separation of powers.
Here are some cases and principles that shed light on these issues:
1. State ex rel. Water Quality Division v. Wyoming Industrial Siting Council, 923 P.2d 1285 (Wyo. 1996)
Principle: Administrative agencies must act within the scope of their statutory authority.
Relevance: LSO’s authority and scope are limited to legislative support, and it must operate according to its enabling statutes and administrative code.
This case reinforces that legislative service agencies like LSO cannot exceed their delegated authority or interfere with functions reserved to elected officials.
2. Powell v. State, 867 P.2d 1294 (Wyo. 1994)
Principle: Nonpartisan legislative staff must maintain impartiality.
Relevance: Ensuring the LSO's function remains strictly nonpartisan to uphold legislative integrity.
The case emphasized the importance of impartiality in legislative roles, which applies directly to LSO staff under Agency 201.
3. Wyoming Press Association v. Wyoming State Board of Control, 586 P.2d 765 (Wyo. 1978)
Principle: Balancing confidentiality in government deliberations with public records transparency.
Relevance: LSO’s drafting and research work is confidential until legislative release, but transparency requirements apply to final legislative documents.
This case outlines how confidentiality in administrative functions, such as the LSO’s work, can coexist with public’s right to access government information.
4. Campbell v. State ex rel. Wyoming State Board of Equalization, 666 P.2d 632 (Wyo. 1983)
Principle: Separation of powers doctrine limits administrative agencies’ encroachment on legislative or judicial functions.
Relevance: The LSO’s role is advisory and supportive, not legislative or judicial, respecting constitutional boundaries.
The LSO’s administrative code (Agency 201) must reflect this separation by strictly limiting LSO duties to legislative service, not lawmaking or adjudication.
Summary and Practical Impact
Agency 201 formalizes how the LSO functions as the legislature’s research, drafting, and legal service arm.
It preserves nonpartisanship, ensuring staff provide unbiased support.
Confidentiality rules protect legislative strategy but also balance with public transparency.
The LSO’s authority is limited to advisory and supportive functions and must comply with statutory and constitutional constraints.
Case law from Wyoming and general administrative principles underline the importance of these limits and standards.
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