This bill amends Section 20i of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which governs the contracting process for legal representation by private attorneys for agencies and officials in the executive branch. A significant change is the prohibition against the Attorney General from canceling approved contracts for legal representation, except under specific circumstances such as breach of contract, gross negligence, or other reasons outlined in the contract. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for agencies to obtain the Attorney General's approval for contracts exceeding $20,000 and mandates a request for proposals for contracts anticipated to exceed $1,000,000.

The bill also introduces new reporting requirements for the Attorney General, who must submit an annual report detailing the use of contracts with private attorneys, including information on new and ongoing contracts, the nature of legal matters, and financial details such as recovery amounts and fees paid. Furthermore, the provisions of this section will not apply to certain entities, including the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System and agencies that invest funds on behalf of beneficiaries. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 74-20i