Maine Revised Statutes Title 5. Administrative Procedures and Services § 203. Appropriations

1. Expenses charged to appropriation. Such sum as may be appropriated for the purposes of this chapter may be expended under the direction of the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall, at the request of any state department, make or cause to be made investigations in behalf of the department and the Attorney General shall prosecute any case to such extent as may seem advisable with all the rights, powers and privileges of district attorneys. The expense of any such investigation and of any prosecution that results from the investigation is charged to this appropriation.

2. Legal services to agency with dedicated revenue. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when the Attorney General provides legal services to any board or state agency that is financed in whole or in part by dedicated or federal revenues, the Attorney General may bill the board or agency at a reasonable rate determined by the Attorney General. An account may be established by the Attorney General for receipt of these revenues. Attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General may be paid in whole or in part from these accounts or in part from a General Fund account. After reimbursement to an account in the Office of the Attorney General is made, the remaining balance must be deposited in the General Fund.

3. Allocation of work. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General has discretion to allocate legal work among the attorneys in the Department of the Attorney General without reference to position counts contained in any appropriation. If the provisions of this section are used to seek reimbursement for legal services for which there is specific appropriation, the Attorney General shall keep time records demonstrating the amount of legal services performed for which reimbursement is sought. The Attorney General shall submit a quarterly report detailing the manner in which legal work has been allocated among attorneys in that office pursuant to this subsection to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over audit and program review.