(a)

(1) The district attorney general of the district in which the petition was filed shall represent the state and respond by proper pleading on behalf of the state within thirty (30) days after receiving notice of the docketing or within such time as the court orders.

(2) If the petition does not include the records or transcripts, or parts of records or transcripts that are material to the questions raised therein, the district attorney general is empowered to obtain them at the expense of the state and shall file them with the responsive pleading or within a reasonable time thereafter.

(3) The district attorney general shall be reimbursed for any expenses, including travel incurred in connection with the preparation and trial of any proceeding under this part. These expenses shall be paid by the state of Tennessee, and shall not be included in the expense allowance now received by the various district attorneys general.

(b) It is the duty and function of the attorney general and reporter and the attorney general and reporter's staff to lend whatever assistance may be necessary to the district attorney general in the trial and disposition of such cases.

(c) In the event an appeal to the court of appeals is taken from the judgment of the trial court hearing a petition pursuant to this part, or in the event a delayed appeal in the nature of a writ of error is granted from the judgment of the circuit court pursuant to § 37-1-319, the attorney general and reporter and the attorney general and reporter's staff shall represent the state and prepare and file all necessary briefs in the same manner as now performed in connection with criminal appeals.