§704. Divisions of the department; functions

A. Each division within the Department of Justice shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of a director. The purposes for which the divisions of the Department of Justice are created shall be as set forth in this Section.

B. There shall be within the Department of Justice a federalism division. It shall be responsible for the appellate work of the state relating to federal litigation, multistate actions, amicus briefs, and other complex litigation as determined by the attorney general.

C. There shall be within the Department of Justice an administrative services division. It shall be responsible for accounting and budget control, procurement and contract management, management and program analysis, data processing, personnel management, grants management for the department, automated systems, governmental relations, and the collection of money owed to the state and its agencies, boards, and commissions.

D. There shall be within the Department of Justice a public protection division. It shall be responsible for consumer protection, environmental protection, anti-trust, securities, family violence prevention, and insurance protection.

E. There shall be within the Department of Justice a civil division. It shall be responsible for providing the full range of civil legal services requested by the officers and agencies of the state. The functions of the civil division shall include the assertion or protection of any right or interest of the state of Louisiana; legal representation of governmental officers, agencies, boards, or commissions; collection of money owed to the state of Louisiana and its agencies, boards, or commissions; construction claims and litigation on public works; and legal protection of state lands, water bottoms, and natural resources of the state.

F. There shall be within the Department of Justice a criminal division. It shall be responsible for criminal appeals, amicus curiae briefs in criminal prosecutions, habeas corpus defense, assistance to district attorneys in criminal cases, criminal prosecution, public corruption, institutional and insurance fraud cases, and extraditions, in accordance with Article IV, Section 8 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

G. There shall be within the Department of Justice an investigation division. It shall be responsible for investigation of alleged violations of the criminal laws of this state; conducting of civil and special investigations, including investigations of public corruption, institutional and insurance fraud; and executive security.

H. There shall be within the Department of Justice a litigation division. It shall be responsible for providing legal representation for the state, its officers, agents, employees, boards, and commissions, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16A of Title 39.

I. There shall be within the Department of Justice a gaming division. It shall be responsible for providing legal representation, services, and staffing to gaming regulatory entities and agencies of the state as provided by law and such other functions and duties, related to gaming, as are assigned by the attorney general.

J. The duties and functions of the divisions shall be as provided in this Section and these duties and functions shall not be subject to change by the attorney general, except that the divisions shall perform such additional duties and functions as are assigned by the attorney general.

K. Whenever the attorney general determines that the administration of the functions of the department may be more efficiently performed by eliminating, merging, or consolidating existing divisions, he shall present a plan therefor to the legislature for its approval by statute.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 438, §1; Acts 1992, No. 866, §1; Acts 1993, No. 610, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2005, No. 435, §1, eff. July 11, 2005; Acts 2018, No. 432, §5, eff. June 30, 2018.