The duties of the Legislative Assembly Office are to provide administrative support to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly. The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has overall responsibility for the central services provided by the Legislative Assembly Office. The Clerk is, in turn, responsible to the Speaker for efficient and effective administration of the Assembly support services.
The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, (S.S. 1979, L-11.1 Part II.1, Section 68.2) currently defines the Legislative Assembly Office as follows: "The Legislative Assembly Office is continued and consists of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms and any other employees that may be required for the proper conduct of the business of the Legislative Assembly Office."
The following are Legislative Assembly Services:
Office of the Clerk - The Clerk for the Legislative Assembly is responsible for coordinating the procedural, administrative, financial and support services required by the MLA's, the House and the Committees. For administrative purposes, the Clerk reports to the Speaker and the Board of Internal Economy. The Board is an all-party commission chaired by the Speaker which exercises financial authority for the Legislative branch.
Broadcast Services - Responsible for producing a live television presentation of all proceedings in the Assembly that are broadcast throughout the province.
Financial Services - Ensures that all financial activities within the Legislative Assembly are conducted in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Board of Internal Economy and the Department of Finance.
Visitor Services - Provides visitors and tourists with tours of the Legislative Building, as well as information on the Building and other attractions of Regina and Saskatchewan.
Hansard is a written record of everything said in the House. Members' speeches are recorded and then transcribed for publication.
Information Systems - Provides computer and technology related services and support primarily to staff of the Legislative Assembly and Caucus offices.
Journals Branch - Responsible for the preparation of the permanent official record of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly and the daily Order Paper.
Legislative Council and Law Clerk - Provide legal advice to members and is involved in the drafting of Private Members' Bills and amendments to other Bills.
Legislative Library - Provides information services and background research to meet the needs of Members and their staffs. Limited access to library resources and services is available to private citizens.
Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms - Responsible for the enforcement of security within the Legislative Building, including access, alarm systems, security officers and a Corps of Commissionaires.
Personnel and Administrative Services - Responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures as well as general administration in such areas as equipment, surveys, research, etc. as required by the Clerk.
The Office of the Clerk and staff of the Legislative Assembly had been in place during the Territorial period. Previously a council, the Legislative Assembly came into existence in 1888. Samuel Spencer Page had served as Clerk of the Territorial Legislative Assembly from March 14, 1901 to August 31, 1905 and continued as Clerk of the provincial Assembly from February 14, 1906 until October 10, 1916.
The gap in Page's tenure suggests a Clerk was not named for the first six months of provincial status. However, staff carrying out support duties to the Territorial Assembly likely continued as support for the provincial assembly until the clerk was named. As the Legislative Assembly Office was not created by the Saskatchewan Act, formal creation of the Office could not have taken place until the opening of the first Legislature on March 29, 1906.
The first mention of "offices of the Legislative Assembly" and associated staff occurs in "The Public Service Act" assented to May 26, 1906. As a result of the lack of a definitive enabling agent, this act has been chosen as the first reference to the Legislative Assembly Office as a legal entity.