161:9 Children in Need of Services. –
When the department is a petitioner or respondent in contested cases involving children in need of services, children who are alleged to be neglected or abused, and in contested termination of parental rights cases or contested cases involving protective services for adults, the commissioner may, with the approval of the attorney general, contract with attorneys to represent social workers of the department appearing in such cases. The commissioner may compensate attorneys at a reasonable rate for such representation.