HB1830

House Bill 1830 amends Arkansas law regarding the procurement of contingency fee contracts by the Attorney General's office. The bill prohibits contingency fees from being calculated based on civil fines or penalties awarded in a case. It establishes strict requirements for the Attorney General to maintain control over litigation, including ensuring government attorneys oversee the case, retain the authority to reject decisions by outside counsel, and exclusively control settlement decisions. The legislation requires the Attorney General to develop a standard addendum for all such contracts detailing the roles and responsibilities of private attorneys versus state government attorneys. It also ensures that defendants involved in litigation can communicate directly with government attorneys rather than exclusively through outside counsel. Finally, the bill clarifies that these provisions do not expand the existing authority of the Attorney General to enter into contracts.