A. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board shall establish a legal division or unit in the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The Administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority may employ attorneys as needed, which may be on full-time and part-time basis. Provided the Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall not exceed the authorized full-time equivalent limit for attorneys as specified by the Legislature in the appropriations bill for the Authority. Except as otherwise provided by this section, such attorneys, in addition to advising the Board, Administrator and Authority personnel on legal matters, may appear for and represent the Board, Administrator and Authority in legal actions and proceedings.

B. The Legislature shall establish full-time-equivalent limits for attorneys employed by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

C. It shall continue to be the duty of the Attorney General to give official opinions to the Board, Administrator and Authority, and to prosecute and defend actions therefor, if requested to do so. The Attorney General may levy and collect costs, expenses of litigation and a reasonable attorney fee for such legal services from the Authority. The Attorney General is authorized to levy and collect costs, expenses and fees which exceed the costs associated with the salary and benefits of one attorney FTE position per fiscal year.

D. The Board, Administrator or Authority shall not contract for representation by private legal counsel unless approved by the Attorney General. Such contract for private legal counsel shall be in the best interests of the state.

E. 1. The Attorney General shall be notified by the Board or its counsel of all lawsuits against the Authority, its officers or employees that seek injunctive relief which would impose obligations requiring the expenditure of funds in excess of unencumbered monies in the agency's appropriations or beyond the current fiscal year.

2. The Attorney General shall review any such cases and may represent the interests of the state, if the Attorney General considers it to be in the best interest of the state to do so, in which case the Attorney General shall be paid as provided in subsection C of this section. Representation of multiple defendants in such actions may, at the discretion of the Attorney General, be divided with counsel for the Board, Administrator and Authority as necessary to avoid conflicts of interest.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 95, § 1, emerg. eff. April 13, 1995.