§8-19-4. Enforcement

(a) The office of the Attorney General and the district attorneys shall have the following functions, powers, and duties:

(1) Conduct preliminary investigations to determine the merit of complaints, provided, however, the office of the Attorney General or the district attorneys need not handle any complaint which lacks merit, has been made in bad faith, or may be readily resolved between the parties.

(2) Receive information and documentary material from complainants and take whatever action is appropriate in connection therewith as authorized by this chapter. The office of the Attorney General and the district attorneys may otherwise receive and investigate complaints with respect to acts or practices declared to be unlawful by this chapter, and inform the complainants with respect thereto. Said persons may institute legal proceedings or take such other actions provided for herein which are necessary or incidental to the exercise of its powers and functions.

(3) For the purpose of enforcing subdivision (23) of Section 8-19-5, share information with and request information from any federal agency and any other agency of any other state or any local agency thereof.

(b) Each department, agency, officer, or employee of the state shall cooperate with and assist the office of the Attorney General or a district attorney in the performance of its functions, powers, and duties. When a complaint is referred by the office of the Attorney General or a district attorney to a department, agency, officer, or employee of the state or a county, such entity shall, upon final disposition of the complaint, make a final report in writing to the office of the Attorney General or a district attorney describing the action taken and the final results of that action.

(c) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to delegate or detract in any way from the functions, powers, and duties prescribed by law for any other department or agency of the state, nor to interrupt or preclude the direct relationships of any such department or agency or units of county government in the performance of such functions, powers and duties, nor shall good faith compliance with any federal or state law or regulation be a violation of this chapter with respect to that specific act of compliance.

(d) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to supersede, take precedence over, or preempt any remedy, either criminal or civil, available to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or the Board of Agriculture and Industries in the enforcement of those laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of the commissioner or the board.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-355, p. 510, §4; Act 2002-496, p. 1276, §1.)