Legislative Service Office of the National Assembly

June 8, 1939

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 451

AN ACT TO CREATE THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. There is created in the National Assembly the Legislative Service Office which shall be under the direct supervision of the Speaker. CAaSHI

SECTION 2. The Legislative Service Office shall have the following functions and duties:

(a) To render technical assistance to the Speaker, the Floor Leader, the different Commissions and Committees, and the Members of the National Assembly.

(b) To aid in drafting bills and resolutions on the request of any Committee or Member of the National Assembly.

(c) To make researches for the Members of the National Assembly.

(d) To make up-to-date compilations and indexes of all Philippine laws, legislative precedents, and executive orders.

(e) To maintain and equip a legislative reference library.

(f) To make up-to-date clippings of periodicals on subjects useful to the National Assembly and its Members.

(g) To perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned to it by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

SECTION 3. The Chief of the Legislative Service Office, who shall be known as the Legislative Counsel, and the officers and employees thereof, shall be appointed by the Speaker. Said Legislative Counsel shall have the rank and pay of the directors of bureaus mentioned in subdivision four, subsection (c) of section five of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred and two.

There shall be in the Legislative Service Office such technical assistants, bill-drafters, researchers, clerks, and other employees as may be necessary.

SECTION 4. The various departments, bureaus, offices and branches of the Government, including provinces, cities, and municipalities, shall furnish the Legislative Service Office, without charge any data or information that may be required in the performance of the functions of said office.

SECTION 5. The sum of one hundred thousand pesos is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and forty, out of any funds in the Philippine Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be disbursed upon the order of the Speaker of the National Assembly, for the payment of salaries and wages of the personnel of the Legislative Service Office, for the purchase of books and for such other incidental expenses as may necessarily be incurred to carry into effect the provisions of this Act: Provided, however, That not more than sixty per cent of said sum shall be expended for salaries and wages. Thereafter, the necessary appropriations for the operation of the Legislative Service Office shall be provided for in the Annual General Appropriation Acts.

SECTION 6. Act Numbered Thirty-six hundred and ninety is repealed.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, June 8, 1939.