(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that overall fiscal efficiency and economy in state government be enhanced by employment of the Attorney General as counsel for the representation of state agencies and employees in judicial and administrative adjudicative proceedings.
The Legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the people of the State of California that the Attorney General be provided with the fiscal resources needed to develop and maintain the Attorney General’s capability to provide competent legal representation of state agencies and employees in any judicial or administrative adjudicative proceeding.
(b) As used in this article:
(1) “In-house counsel” means an attorney authorized to practice law in the State of California who is a state employee, including an excluded or exempt employee, other than an employee of the Office of the Attorney General.
(2) “Outside counsel” means an attorney authorized to practice law in the State of California who is not a state employee, including an excluded or exempt employee.
(c) Except with respect to employment by the state officers and agencies specified by title or name in Section 11041, when employing outside counsel for purposes described in subdivision (e) of Section 11043, or when specifically waived by statute other than Section 11041, a state agency shall obtain the written consent of the Attorney General before doing either of the following:
(1) Employing in-house counsel to represent a state agency or employee in any judicial or administrative adjudicative proceeding.
(2) Contracting with outside counsel.
(d) Except as limited by paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), a state agency may employ in-house counsel for any purpose. This subdivision shall apply retroactively to the employment of any in-house counsel by any state agency before the operative date of the act adding this subdivision.
(e) This article does not prohibit a state agency from requesting legal representation or legal services from the Attorney General for any purpose.
(f) Consistent with subdivision (d), and except as may conflict with contrary authorization by statute, a state agency may employ in-house counsel for advice or other legal work related to bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, but shall engage the Attorney General, alone or with other counsel as may be authorized by statute, for the purpose of delivering any approving legal opinion on bonds or other evidences of indebtedness and advice related to the approving legal opinion. The Attorney General may waive the requirement under this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 20, Sec. 21. (AB 137) Effective June 30, 2025.)