Chief Patron: Ingram
SWCD Representation by Attorney General

Item 49 #2h

Language
Page 32, line 3, strike "$19,954,342" and insert "$20,054,342".
Page 32, after line 31, insert:
"D.  Out of the amounts appropriated for State Agency/Local Legal Assistance and Advice, $100,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the provision of legal services to the Commonwealth's 47 local soil and water conservation districts."

Explanation
(This amendment provides $100,000 and one position from the general fund in the second year to the Office of the Attorney General to support the provision of legal services to Virginia's 47 local soil and water conservation districts. Currently, Commonwealth's Attorneys provide the soil and water conservation districts with legal services. Commonwealth's Attorneys have advised the soil and water conservation districts that both their lack of expertise in civil litigation and their criminal workload prevent them from meeting the soil and water conservation districts' requests for legal support in a timely manner. The soil and water conservation districts report that legal assistance from the Office of the Attorney General would provide consistent expertise in both civil and criminal matters.)