75-769. Legal representation charges to state agencies for legal services.
(a) The attorney general may determine, fix and establish a system of legal representation charges and collect such charges from any state agency to which the attorney general provides legal services. The attorney general may determine the amount of legal representation charges due from a state agency by use of a schedule of fees and costs for legal services published by the attorney general or by entering into an agreement with a state agency for payment by such agency for legal services. Such schedule of fees and costs shall not exceed the amount of compensation established pursuant to K.S.A. 22-4507, and amendments thereto, for attorneys appointed by the court to perform services for an indigent person.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "State agency" means any department of state government or any agency thereof that collects fees for licensing, regulating or certifying a person or profession;
(2) "legal representation charges" means any costs, fees, expenses or other financial liability incurred by the attorney general, including, but not limited to, attorney fees, to provide legal services to a state agency; and
(3) "legal services" means any form of legal advice, representation or counseling involving an attorney-client relationship, including, but not limited to, general counsel services and representation of a state agency in any administrative law matter. "Legal services" includes legal services provided at the attorney general's discretion at the request of a state agency and legal services the attorney general is required by law to provide to a state agency. "Legal services" shall not include any representation provided pursuant to the Kansas tort claims act, K.S.A. 75-6101 et seq., and amendments thereto, or the defense of civil rights claims pursuant to K.S.A. 75-6116, and amendments thereto.
(c) The amounts collected under this section shall be remitted by the attorney general to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general's state agency representation fund, which is hereby created. Moneys in the attorney general's state agency representation fund shall be expended by the attorney general for operations of the office of the attorney general.
(d) Nothing in this section shall impose an obligation for the attorney general to provide legal services to any state agency.
(e) The attorney general may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this section.
History: L. 2017, ch. 76, § 2; June 1.