Section 475A.3. Office — employees — expenses.

  1.  Office.  The office of consumer advocate shall be a separate division of the department of justice and located at the same location as the utilities division of the department of commerce. Administrative support services may be provided to the consumer advocate division by the department of commerce.

  2.  Employees.  The consumer advocate may employ attorneys, legal assistants, secretaries, clerks, and other employees the consumer advocate finds necessary for the full and efficient discharge of the duties and responsibilities of the office. The consumer advocate may employ consultants as expert witnesses or technical advisors pursuant to contract as the consumer advocate finds necessary for the full and efficient discharge of the duties of the office. Employees of the consumer advocate division, other than the consumer advocate, are subject to merit employment, except as provided in section 8A.412.

  3.  Salaries, expenses, and appropriation.  The salary of the consumer advocate shall be fixed by the attorney general within the salary range set by the general assembly. The salaries of employees of the consumer advocate shall be at rates of compensation consistent with current standards in industry. The reimbursement of expenses for the employees and the consumer advocate is as provided by law. The appropriation for the office of consumer advocate shall be a separate line item contained in the appropriation from the department of commerce revolving fund created in section 546.12.

83 Acts, ch 127, §10, 46

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86 Acts, ch 1244, §59

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86 Acts, ch 1245, §744

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89 Acts, ch 158, §1

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94 Acts, ch 1107, §79

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2003 Acts, ch 145, §267

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2009 Acts, ch 181, §44