27.020.  Assistants and other personnel — qualifications — compensation. — 1.  The attorney general is hereby authorized to appoint such assistant attorneys general as may be necessary to properly perform the duties of his or her office and shall fix the compensation of such assistants within the limits of the amount appropriated by the general assembly.  Said assistant attorneys general shall hold their office at the pleasure of the attorney general, shall possess the same qualifications as the attorney general, and before entering upon the discharge of their duties shall each take and subscribe to an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri and to faithfully demean themselves in office.  It shall be their duty to assist the attorney general in his or her official duties with power and authority under his or her direction to represent him or her in the discharge of all the duties of his or her office.

  2.  The attorney general may, at the request of any officer, department, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state, assign assistant attorneys general to perform the duties prescribed by law before or upon behalf of such officer, department, board, bureau, commission or agency and may, upon request as aforesaid, from time to time reassign such assistants.

  3.  The attorney general is also authorized to appoint a chief clerk, stenographers, typists, clerks, and such other employees as shall be necessary to properly perform the duties of his or her office.  Said employees shall serve during the pleasure of the attorney general.

  4.  The attorney general is further authorized to appoint commissioned and noncommissioned investigators, as shall be necessary to properly perform the duties of his or her office.  Investigators shall serve at the pleasure of the attorney general.  Each commissioned investigator, upon appointment, shall take and subscribe an oath of office to support the constitution and laws of the United States and the state of Missouri and shall receive a certificate of appointment, a copy of which shall be filed with the secretary of state, issued by the attorney general or his or her designee granting such commissioned investigator all the same powers of arrest held by peace officers to maintain order and preserve the peace in any matter in which the attorney general is appointed or assigned in accordance with the law.  Commissioned investigators may assist law enforcement agencies when requested.  The certificate of appointment of each commissioned investigator may be withdrawn at any time by the attorney general.  Commissioned investigators shall comply with all peace officer standards required by chapter 590.

  5.  The attorney general is authorized to fix the compensation of persons employed by him or her within the limits of the amount appropriated by the general assembly.  The assistant attorneys general and the chief clerk, stenographers, typists, clerks, investigators, and other employees shall be paid in the same manner and at the same time as the attorney general.  The compensation and expenses of said assistants, investigators, and other employees may be paid out of any state or federal funds appropriated to said department for such purposes.