HB2993

THE CONTEXT: The Attorney General (AG) is statutorily responsible for governing the Department of Law and serving as the State's chief legal officer. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the AG acts as the legal advisor of the departments of the State, renders such legal services and coordinates the legal services required by departments or agencies.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would add DPS to the state agencies exempt from the mandate that only the AG may employ legal counsel or incur legal service expenditures or indebtedness and appropriates $6.4 million from the CPCF Fund to DPS as a supplemental appropriation in FY.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for dps into an enforceable rule. It would add DPS to the state agencies exempt from the mandate that only the AG may employ legal counsel or incur legal service expenditures or indebtedness, and would also appropriates $6.4 million from the CPCF Fund to DPS as a supplemental appropriation in FY, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.