SB353 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

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: SB353 broadens and reorganizes the Alabama Attorney General’s office by expanding staff and authority, creating new crime and funding mechanisms, and enabling independent counsel and outside lawyers to take on more roles.
What This Bill Does
The bill makes the AG’s duty to examine laws and issue opinions permissive rather than mandatory and removes the obligation to participate in Code drafting. It lets the Legislative Council hire independent counsel and clarifies the Governor’s ability to hire personal counsel. It allows outside Alabama attorneys to be appointed as deputy attorneys general, increases non-merit staff, and creates investigators and support staff with defined pay and duties. It also expands subpoena power and supervision of prosecutions, creates a new crime for false statements in investigations, and creates a Litigation Support Fund to manage recovered fees, expenses, and penalties in litigation.

Who It Affects
State and local government officials and agencies that may request opinions, rely on subpoenas, or interact with the AG’s office; and legislative/investigative bodies due to independent counsel provisions and centralized litigation information.
Attorney General’s Office staff and related entities (deputy and assistant attorneys general, investigators, paralegals, executive assistants, and outside counsel) plus state litigation funding, due to staffing changes, new duties, and the Litigation Support Fund.

Key Provisions
Makes the AG’s duty to provide opinions on state law optional and removes obligation to participate in Code drafting.
Authorizes the Legislative Council to hire independent counsel; clarifies Governor’s authority to hire personal counsel.
Allows attorneys licensed outside Alabama to be appointed as deputy attorneys general; updates employment provisions; prohibits private law offices for assistant and full-time deputy AGs.
Increases the number of non-merit employees; creates executive assistants and paralegals with defined pay structures; maintains merit-system considerations for other staff.
Expands the authority to issue subpoenas (including without a grand jury in session) and establishes enforcement procedures; district attorney assistance available upon request when prosecutions are directed by the AG.
Adds 36-15-62.1 creating a Class C felony for false statements and related acts in AG investigations.
Creates the Attorney General’s Litigation Support Fund to receive and manage fees, fines, penalties, and related expenses, with annual limits and reporting requirements.
Creates Section 36-15-21.1 to centralize tracking of litigation against state entities and require organized records.
Exempts the bill from local-funds Amendment 621 requirements due to the creation of a new crime or changes in law.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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