Bill S.94, introduced by Senators Vyhovsky and Plunkett, aims to designate the Attorney General as the primary enforcement authority for specific criminal offenses in Vermont. The bill amends 3 V.S.A. § 152 to clarify the scope of the Attorney General's authority, allowing them to represent the State in all civil and criminal matters and granting them the same authority as a States Attorney. Notably, the bill outlines a list of criminal matters where the Attorney General will have primary, but not exclusive, authority, including cases involving conflicts of interest for local States Attorneys, allegations of excessive force by law enforcement, and various offenses related to vulnerable adults, human trafficking, and fraud.

The bill also allows for a stipulation between the States Attorney and the Attorney General, permitting the States Attorney to prosecute specific cases that fall under the outlined categories. If no such agreement is made, the Attorney General retains primary enforcement authority. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-152