SB324 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Ben H. Brooks

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Attorney General, makes permissive issuance of opinions, expenses, attorneys licensed outside Alabama authorized to be appointed deputy attorneys general, certain private law offices prohibited, nonmerit employee appointments increased, issuance of subpoenas, criminal prosecutions, official opinions, false statement by Attorney General in investigations, prohibited, penalties, Sec. 36-15-62.1 added; Secs. 36-15-1, 36-15-4.2, 36-15-5.1, 36-15-6, 36-15-9, 36-15-10, 36-15-11.1, 36-15-13, 36-15-14, 36-15-16, 36-15-17, 36-15-21.1, 36-15-60, 36-15-62 am'd.

Summary

SB324 would reorganize and expand the Alabama Attorney General’s office—broadening powers, adding staff and new duties, creating a litigation fund, and adding penalties for false statements in investigations.

What This Bill Does

The bill makes some attorney general duties optional (such as issuing opinions and reviewing constitutional validity) and removes the requirement for the AG to help prepare the Code of Alabama. It lets the Legislative Council hire independent counsel and clarifies the Governor’s authority to hire personal counsel, while changing how certain fees and judgments are handled. It allows lawyers licensed outside Alabama to be deputy attorneys general, expands non-merit staff, tightens rules about private law offices, strengthens subpoena powers, and lets the district attorney assist in prosecutions when the AG directs. It also creates a new crime for making false statements in AG investigations and establishes the Attorney General’s Litigation Support Fund with spending caps and reporting requirements.

Who It Affects

• State government and AG's office staff (attorneys, deputies, assistants, investigators, paralegals, and support staff) who gain hiring flexibility, pay structure changes, and new duties.
• Legislature, Governor, and local officials (county/city) who may request opinions, hire independent/personal counsel, and rely on changes to litigation funding and reporting.

Key Provisions

• Permissive opinions by the Attorney General on questions of law requested by state or local officials; not mandatory.
• Legislative Council may employ independent counsel to represent Legislature; Governor may hire personal counsel.
• Remove requirement that contracts for fees or penalties be reviewed by Contract Review Committee; AG may certify attorney fees and expenses up to actual office expenses.
• Allow attorneys licensed outside Alabama to be appointed as deputy attorneys general; prohibit private law offices for assistants and full-time deputies; increase non-merit staff.
• Clarify and expand the AG’s subpoena power, including subpoenas issued without a grand jury in session and enforcement provisions.
• Assistant and chief deputies may render official opinions in AG’s absence; district attorney shall assist when AG supervises prosecutions.
• Create new crime Section 36-15-62.1 making false statements in investigations a Class C felony; create Attorney General’s Litigation Support Fund with funding rules, caps ($1,000,000 per fiscal year), and oversight.
• Amendment 621 note: bill is exempt from local expenditure requirements because it creates a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Attorney General