The legislative commissioners, with the approval of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, may employ and fix the compensation of such assistants as are required to carry out the duties of their office; and the Legislative Commissioners’ Office shall be considered a branch of the Legislative Department of the state government within the meaning of subdivision (2) of § 5-198. No such employee shall be demoted or dismissed by reason of economy, change in departmental administration or organization or abolition of position if any other employee with less service in the office is to be retained, or another employee engaged, to perform comparable duties. When the General Assembly is not in session, said committee may, with the approval of the commissioners, designate one or more employees of the Legislative Commissioners’ Office to assist in the performance of the duties of said committee, legislative commissions and legislative interim committees. This section shall not apply to temporary employees engaged by the General Assembly to assist the legislative commissioners in connection with any session of the General Assembly.