(a) The Legislative Counsel may employ and fix the compensation, in accordance with law, of such professional assistants and clerical and other employees as he or she deems necessary for the effective conduct of the work under his or her charge.

(b) The Legislative Counsel and the employees of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall, to the extent that funds appropriated for the support of the Legislative Counsel Bureau include funds for that purpose, receive any or all of the employee benefits provided to employees of either house of the Legislature. The benefits that are authorized by this subdivision shall be in addition to any other employee benefits authorized by any other provision of law.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 19853, the Legislative Counsel and the employees of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall observe any holiday designated pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 19853, that is also observed by the Legislature, on the same day that the holiday is observed by the Legislature.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1124, Sec. 11. Effective September 30, 2002.)