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 grant the Attorney General the authority to represent the State in all civil and criminal matters, similar to a States Attorney, and to represent members of the General Assembly in civil matters related to their legislative duties. 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.

Additionally, the bill allows for stipulations between the Attorney General and States Attorneys regarding the prosecution of specific cases. If no stipulation 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