HB 96

Present law authorizes t he attorney general to conduct an investigation and initiate the criminal prosecution of any j udge, chancellor , or judicial elected official or district attorney general if all of the following criteria is met: (i) t he attorney general receives information sufficient to constitute probable cause to investigate whether any official may have violated any state criminal law ; (ii) a decision to prosecute the official by the district attorney general of the district in which the offense occurred or in which a portion of the offense occurred may result in a personal, financial , or political conflict of in terest , and (iii) t he attorney general receives a report of a violation of the prohibition against direct supervision of relatives. This bill, instead, gives the attorney general such authority to investigate and initiate such criminal prosecution if t h e attorney general receives information sufficient to constitute probable cause to investigate whether any such official may have violated any state criminal law and the criteria described in either (ii) or (iii) above are met.