A. Effective January 1, 1983, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners of each county in each district attorney's district to provide:
1. Sufficient office space in the county courthouse, and the costs of utility services for power, lighting, heat, cooling, appropriate janitorial service, and costs of maintenance, upkeep, and repair of such space, for the personnel and programs of the office of the district attorney;
2. A sufficient law library and subscriptions to legal publications necessary for the performance of the duties of the district attorney, the same to remain an asset and property of the county;
3. Sufficient funds for the costs and necessary expenses of investigation, prosecution or defense of any action, whether contemplated or actual, wherein the county officers, county appointees or employees, while acting in their official capacity may be party plaintiffs, defendants or intervenors.
B. Capital assets or properties presently owned by each county and assigned for use to the office of the district attorney shall continue to be furnished and owned by said county for use by the office of the district attorney, with the expense of ordinary maintenance and repair to be paid by the state. At such time as the utility of the same shall be of no benefit and, when authorized by the District Attorneys Council, such property shall be returned to the county for disposal as provided by law. Said equipment's equitable replacement is to be provided by the state. Capital assets or properties presently leased by the county and assigned for use to the office of the district attorney shall be assigned to the state by the county, at the request of the Council; thereafter, said capital assets or properties shall be leased by the state, subject to the terms and conditions of the lease agreements. Lease payments shall become the responsibility of the state. Capital assets or properties presently held by the county under an approved lease-purchase agreement for equipment or properties assigned to the office of the district attorney, may, at the election of the Council, be assumed by the state and any existing intangible worth by reason of such assumption shall be the property of the state. The county shall be released from financial responsibility of lease-purchase payments under the terms of said agreement and held harmless therefrom by the state. In the event the agreement is completed to full term, the asset acquired shall be the property of the state. In the event the state, through the Council, declines to assume such obligation under any pending lease-purchase agreement, said county shall retain such agreement and the equipment or the property held thereunder, and shall have the right to assign such equipment or property and its use to any county use which may be provided by law.
C. Counties having a population of three hundred thousand (300,000) or more shall, and counties having a population of less than three hundred thousand (300,000) may, furnish sufficient equipment and personnel for equipment operation for such computer services and digitizing as the district attorney deems necessary.
Added by Laws 1982, c. 340, § 16, emerg. eff. June 2, 1982. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 109, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Laws 2017, c. 22, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.