72-14-103. Duty of attorney general -- employment of special assistant. (1) The attorney general of the state of Montana shall be the legal adviser in connection with all escheated property matters, and it is the duty of the attorney general to institute investigations and conduct inquiries for the discovery of all real and personal property which may have escheated or should escheat to the state and for that purpose has the power to cite any and all persons before any of the district courts of this state to answer investigations and render accounts concerning said property, real or personal, and to examine all books and papers of any and all corporations. When any real or personal property is discovered which should escheat to the state, the attorney general must institute suit in the district court of the county where said property shall be situated for the recovery and to escheat the same to the state and shall take all steps necessary to secure such escheat. The proceedings in all such actions shall be those provided for in parts 1 through 3 of this chapter.

(2) For this purpose the attorney general is authorized and empowered to employ a special assistant and incur necessary expenses subject to appropriation limitations.