Assembly Bill 170 seeks to restrict the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Wisconsin from utilizing the legal services of nongovernmental employees for the investigation or prosecution of civil or criminal matters. The bill stipulates that the DOJ may only engage the services of individuals who are state or federal employees or agents, with two exceptions: the DOJ can contract for legal services on a contingent fee basis under existing law, or it may employ legal interns who earn no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer.

The new statute, created as section 165.252, explicitly prohibits the DOJ from using nongovernmental legal services unless these conditions are met. This legislative change aims to ensure that legal assistance in state matters is primarily sourced from public employees, thereby potentially enhancing accountability and oversight within the legal processes of the DOJ.