Reporting on the status and progress of litigation settlements

A. (1)(a) As the chief legal officer of the state, the attorney general shall as frequently as necessary and not less often than quarterly report to the members of the litigation subcommittee of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, established pursuant to R.S. 24:653(H) the status of any claims made against the state which may result in a litigation settlement the cost of which is reasonably expected by the attorney general to exceed a total of one million dollars, issues related to such claim, and recommendations being made or steps being taken regarding such claim. (b) On a quarterly basis, each state agency shall report to the attorney general the status of any pending litigation and any pending claim made against the state which may result in a litigation settlement the cost of which is reasonably expected to exceed one million dollars, and any steps being taken or recommended with regard to any such litigation or claim. (2)(a) This information shall be presented in any format and in any manner mutually agreed upon by the chairperson of the litigation subcommittee and the attorney general. (b) Should the agreed on format be a meeting of the subcommittee, the subcommittee may meet in executive session pursuant to the procedures and requirements of R.S. 42:16. B. (1) Each member of the litigation subcommittee and all staff persons authorized by the subcommittee to have access to such information shall be advised of any information being reported which is deemed by the attorney general to be confidential information. Each member and all staff persons authorized by the subcommittee to have access to such information shall maintain the confidential nature of such information. (2)(a) Any member who determines that he has an economic interest which is of greater benefit to the member or any member of his immediate family than to a general class or group of persons, except the interest that the member has arising solely from his public office or the interest the member has as a member of the general public, with regard to any particular claim shall notify the chairperson of the subcommittee and the attorney general and shall be excluded from all disclosure of information related to such claim. (b) Any member who is determined by the attorney general to have an economic interest which is of greater benefit to the member or any member of his immediate family than to a general class or group of persons, except the interest that the member has arising solely from his public office or the interest the member has as a member of the general public, with regard to any particular claim shall be excluded from all disclosure of information related to such claim upon notification by the attorney general to the chairperson of the subcommittee of such determination.