HB548 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Examiners of Public Accounts Dept., chief legal counsel and assistant legal counsels, requirement that they be deputy attorneys general removed, employment, duties, and powers further provided, chief examiner and Legislative Committee on Public Accounts further provided, Sec. 41-5A-11 am'd.

Summary

HB548 would remove the deputy attorney general requirement for the department's chief legal counsel and assistants, placing appointment and control with the chief examiner and granting them deputy AG–style powers to pursue civil actions.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes who hires the department's chief legal counsel and assistants from the Attorney General to the chief examiner, and they would serve at the chief examiner's pleasure. It authorizes these lawyers to file civil actions or other proceedings under the direction of the chief examiner and the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, and it gives them the same powers, privileges, and rights as deputy attorneys general. It establishes the staffing framework by allowing the chief examiner to appoint two assistant legal counsels (with any additional hires needing Legislative Committee approval), who would be commissioned as assistant attorneys general and work full time, with compensation set by the chief examiner. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval.

Who It Affects

• The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and its chief examiner, who would gain appointment control over the department's legal staff and authority to direct civil actions on behalf of the department.
• The chief legal counsel and assistant legal counsels, who would be appointed by the chief examiner, serve full time, receive compensation set by the chief examiner, and hold deputy attorney general–like powers and rights under the department's direction and oversight.

Key Provisions

• Eliminate the requirement that the chief legal counsel and assistant legal counsels be deputy attorneys general; they are to be appointed by the chief examiner and serve at the examiner's pleasure.
• authorize the chief legal counsel to be appointed pursuant to the department's rules, serve at the chief examiner's direction, and receive compensation determined by the chief examiner.
• allow the chief examiner to appoint two assistant legal counsels (with approval for additional assistants by the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts) who will be commissioned as assistant attorneys general and devote full time to the department, with compensation set as for the chief legal counsel.
• empower the chief legal counsel and assistants, under the direction of the chief examiner and in consultation with the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, to institute civil actions or other proceedings necessary to perform their duties, and grant them the same powers, privileges, and rights as deputy attorneys general.
• amend Section 41-5A-11 to reflect these changes and specify the act's effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Examiners of Public Accounts Department