Committee approves Rapid City legal assistant for Attorney General's office

The Joint Committee on Appropriations approved a request to add $99,370 in general funds and one full-time equivalent position for a legal assistant in the Attorney General's Rapid City office.

Representative Jorgensson moved the request, stating the Rapid City office houses roughly 33 staff, including six full-time attorneys and specialized enforcement teams, while the office currently employs only one full-time legal assistant. "A new legal assistant would alleviate the need for prosecutors to perform paralegal and administrative duties," Jorgensson said, and committee members broadly supported the addition. The committee set the office budget as presented on the motion sheet.

Lawmakers said the increase would allow attorneys to focus on case preparation, legal research and trial work rather than administrative tasks; the motion to set the Attorney General's office budget then passed on roll call.