1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing procedures and restrictions relating to 
1.3 	hiring outside attorneys;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 8.065.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 8.065, is amended to read:
1.6 	8.065 PRIVATE ATTORNEY CONTRACTS.
1.7 	(a) The attorney general may not enter into a contract for legal services in which 
1.8 	the fees and expenses paid by the state exceed, or can reasonably be expected to 
1.9 	exceed, $1,000,000 unless the attorney general first submits the proposed contract to 
1.10 	the Legislative Advisory Commission, and waits at least 20 days to receive a possible 
1.11 	recommendation from the commission senate Finance Committee and the house Ways and 
1.12 	Means Committee and both committees approve the contract.
1.13 	(b) The attorney general may not enter into a contract for legal services that involves 
1.14 	the payment of contingent fees.
1.15 	(c) The attorney general may not enter into a contract for legal services in which 
1.16 	the fees and expenses paid by the state exceed, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, 
1.17 	$100,000 unless the attorney general first makes reasonable efforts to publicize the 
1.18 	availability of the contract.
1.19 	(d) When entering into a contract for legal services, the attorney general must award 
1.20 	the contract to the attorney or firm that submits the most competitive proposal to provide 
1.21 	the services, considering the cost, qualifications and experience of the attorney or firm, 
1.22 	and other relevant factors the attorney general identifies.
1.23 	(e) The attorney general must maintain a list, available to the public, of all contracts 
1.24 	for legal services. The list must include the name of the contractor, the fees to be paid 
2.1 	under the contracts, and the terms of the contract. The attorney general must also make 
2.2 	available to the public the text of all contracts for legal services.