Senate Bill 55 aims to restrict the Department of Justice (DOJ) from utilizing the legal services of nongovernmental employees in the investigation or prosecution of civil or criminal matters. The bill specifies that the DOJ may only engage the services of individuals who are state or federal employees or agents, with exceptions for legal interns who earn no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer. This measure is intended to ensure that legal assistance in these matters is provided primarily by government employees.

The bill introduces a new section, 165.252, into the statutes, which outlines these prohibitions and exceptions. It explicitly states that the DOJ cannot use the legal services of any person who does not fall under the specified categories unless they adhere to existing processes for contracting legal services on a contingent fee basis. This legislative change reflects a commitment to maintaining a workforce composed mainly of state and federal employees in legal proceedings handled by the DOJ.