DEFENSE OF PUB. OFFICER: ETHICS COMPLAINT

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows 'Passed Legislature' but also lists a referral date; final enactment details beyond legislative passage are not confirmed in the provided text.

SB 65: Legal Representation Limits for Public Officers in Ethics Complaints

This bill prevents the Department of Law and the attorney general from representing or advising public officers who are subjects of ethics complaints filed under state law.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new rule to Alaska state law about legal representation for public officers.
• Stops the Department of Law, including the attorney general, from representing or advising specific officials during ethics complaints.
• Applies this restriction when an official is the subject of a complaint filed under the relevant chapter.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Law
• The attorney general
• The governor and lieutenant governor
• Other current or former public officers

Terms To Know

Department of Law

The state agency that includes the attorney general.

Public officer

A person who holds a government job or elected position, including former officers in this context.

Ethics complaint

An official report filed under the specific state law chapter mentioned in the bill.

Limits and Unknowns

• The text does not specify who must provide legal help if the Department of Law cannot.
• The rule only applies to complaints filed under this specific chapter, not other types of investigations.
• The effective date is not listed in the provided source material.

Official Summary Text

DEFENSE OF PUB. OFFICER: ETHICS COMPLAINT
An Act relating to legal representation of public officers in ethics complaints.

Current Bill Text

SB0065A -1- SB 65
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0185\A

SENATE BILL NO. 65

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATOR CLAMAN

Introduced: 1/24/25
Referred: Judiciary, State Affairs

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to legal representation of public officers in ethics complaints." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 39.52 is amended by adding a new section to read: 3
Sec. 39.52.165. Representation of public officers. T h e D e p ar tme n t o f L aw , 4
including the attorney general, may not represent or advise the governor, the lieutenant 5
governor, or another public officer or former public officer in a matter in which that 6
public officer or former public officer is the subject of a com plaint filed under this 7
chapter. 8