(a) The state auditor shall be authorized to employ or contract with actuaries and other personnel to carry out the duties assigned to that officer by this chapter. Upon their approval by the Legislative Services Committee, expenses incurred by the state auditor in carrying out such duties shall be paid from funds appropriated or available to the legislative branch of the state government. When authorized to do so by the Legislative Services Committee, and such authorization may be on a continuing basis by direction of the Legislative Services Committee entered upon its minutes, the legislative fiscal officer, upon certification by the state auditor of expenses incurred to carry out the duties assigned to that officer by this chapter, is authorized to expend legislative funds to pay such expenses.

(b) Retirement system administrators, state officials and employees, and officials and employees of political subdivisions are authorized and directed to cooperate with and assist the state auditor in carrying out the duties assigned to that officer by this chapter.