This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 15.17, to clarify the responsibilities of the attorney general in civil law enforcement actions. It introduces several new subdivisions that establish the attorney general's role as acting in the public interest of the state, rather than as a representative of any specific state department or agency. Specifically, it states that unless explicitly named, other state entities are not parties to the attorney general's civil law enforcement actions, and their records are not subject to discovery in these cases. Additionally, it emphasizes that each agency is the sole custodian of its own records, and that records maintained due to an attorney-client relationship with the attorney general's office are not accessible to divisions prosecuting civil law enforcement actions.

The bill further stipulates that no public officer or state entity will be considered a party in litigation related to the attorney general's civil law enforcement actions unless they are expressly named. This provision aims to protect state entities from being drawn into litigation unless they are directly involved. Overall, the amendments seek to delineate the boundaries of the attorney general's authority and the independence of state agencies in legal matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 15.17