HB1763--PROSECUTINGANDCIRCUITATTORNEYS
SPONSOR: Hicks
ThisbillallowstheGovernortoappointaspecialprosecutorif
theGovernorfindsthattheprosecutingorcircuitattorneyina
countyormunicipalityhasfailedtoexecutehisorherassigned
dutyorisunabletofaithfullyorcompetentlyexecutesuchduties.
ThespecialprosecutorswillbeemployedbytheAttorneyGeneral
andwillhaveconcurrentjurisdictiontoprosecuteoffensesor
casesdesignatedbytheGovernor. TheGovernormayalsosuspend
fromofficeanyprosecutingorcircuitattorney,oranassistant
prosecutingattorney,forthatattorney'sneglectorfailureto
performthedutiesofthatoffice.IftheGovernorsuspendsa
prosecutingorcircuitattorney,theGovernorwillappointan
interimprosecutingorcircuitattorney,whowillserveuntilthe
nextregularlyscheduledelection.
Ifaprosecutingorcircuitattorneydeclinestofileanindictment
orinformationorfailstofileanindictmentorinformationwithin
30daysafteranarrest,oriftheAttorneyGeneralfindsthatthe
prosecutingorcircuitattorneyisnotactivelyorproperly
investigatinganoffense,theAttorneyGeneralmayassumeauthority
toinvestigateorprosecuteanoffense.
TheAttorneyGeneralwillalsocompileastatewidereportthat
includesinformationprovidedbyeachprosecutingorcircuit
attorneyunderthissection,andthereportwillbeavailableto
thepublicandwillbesortablebyoffenseandjurisdiction. The
reportwillalsobesubmittedtotheGovernor,PresidentProTemof
theSenate,andtotheSpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives.