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House approves temporary expansion of attorney‑general litigation fund uses; measure described as stopgap
Summary
Senate Bill 6,004, which broadens allowable uses of the attorney‑general litigation fund to cover additional operating costs after budget cuts, passed the House 66–0; sponsors described the change as a temporary stopgap to be revisited in the next general session.
On the Senate calendar, the House took up Senate Bill 6,004, a measure that would broaden how the attorney‑general litigation fund may be used.
Representative Burkhart walked members through the bill, saying it expands permissible uses beyond antitrust and criminal-law actions because the attorney‑general’s office has faced substantial budget cuts. “The attorney general’s office has already been cut $1,200,000… and we’re currently proposing to cut them another $661,000,” the sponsor said, noting the litigation fund currently held about $509,000 for permissible uses.
Members asked whether the bill would effectively create a large unappropriated balance if the fund exceeded a $2,000,000 threshold and whether the attorney general could spend down the fund to the cap. Sponsor and supporters characterized the measure as a stopgap for current needs and said they intended to open a bill file in the general session to revisit and potentially reverse the change.
After floor questions and debate, the House recorded a final vote: Senate Bill 6,004 passed the House 66–0. The bill was read by title, signed and entered on the journal on Dec. 18, 2002.
