> Overview > Role & Function
Chronology of LCO
The Legislative Counsel Office (LCO), a legislation supporting body
in the Secretariat, opened in 1989 as a division under the Legislative Research
Bureau to assist Assembly members’ legislation activities. As lawmakers became
more dedicated to legislative works and the public’s demand for legislation have
soared, the office has now grown to be a core organization with ten divisions.
Mar. 1989
Opened Legislative Affairs Office
For the purpose of providing extensive legislative information and support to Assembly members, the Secretariat established the Legislative Affairs Office under the Legislative Research Bureau with a staff of nine in March 1989.
Aug. 1994
Established Legislation and Budget Office
To provide Assembly members with more systematic assistance in not only their legislative activities but also budget deliberations, the Secretariat opened the Legislation and Budget Office in August 1994, closing the Legislative Research Bureau. Two divisions with a staff of 28-Legislation Division I and II-were in charge of legislative affairs.
Jan. 2000
Divided Legislation and Budget Office
Following the request of Assembly members for stronger support for legislative works, the Legislative and Budget Office was divided again into the LCO and the Budget Bureau. The LCO consisted of three divisions-Legislation Divisions I, II, III-with a total of 41 staff, and a range of experts including lawyers and doctors of law as Legislative Drafting Officers.
Jul. 2003
Expanded LCO
In order to deal with the burgeoning bill proposals by Assembly members, the Secretariat expanded the LCO in July 2003 by adding two new divisions to the existing three, and the number of staff amounted to 51.
Jan. 2007
Expanded LCO
To speed up and professionalize the work process, the LCO was reinforced with one Economic Legislation Counsel (Grade III official), one Director (Grade III or IV official), eight Legislative Drafting Officers (Grade V official) and one Assistant Legislative Drafting Officer (Grade VI official).
Apr. 2009
Expanded LCO
To build an one-to-one correspondence of the standing committees and the LCO divisions, and support administrative legislation, the LCO was expanded from six divisions to nine, with a total staff of 71.
Apr. 2010
Expanded LCO
To reduce the length of time taken for each bill, and perform the analysis and appraisal of administrative legislation, the staff of the LCO was increased by six to a total of 77.
Aug. 2011
Expanded LCO
The Legislative Research Division was established under the LCO to examine and analyze the constitutionality of bills. The staff was also reinforced with one Director (Grade III or IV official), three Legislative Drafting Officers (Grade IV, V or Contracted Service) and one Assistant Legislative Drafting Officer (Grade VI official).
Dec. 2016
Expanded LCO
To provide closer scrutiny of the unconstitutionality of bills and administrative legislation and in response to increased demand for bill drafting, four Legislative Drafting Officers have been added: three at Grade IV or V, and one at Grade IV, V, or Contracted Service.
APR. 2021
Expanded LCO
To better respond to increased demand for bill drafting and to strengthen quality control, LCO staffing has been enlarged by adding one Deputy Director-General (Grade III), one Legislative Drafting Officer (Grade IV or V), and one Assistant Legislative Drafting Officer (Grade VI).