(a) In representing the interests of the state in appeals from criminal actions in the district courts of this state to the supreme court or court of appeals or in other post-conviction actions arising from criminal prosecutions, the attorney general shall invoke the assistance of the county or district attorney of the county in which the action originally commenced. The reasonable costs of such representation shall be allowed and paid by the board of county commissioners from the county general fund for any services rendered by such county’s county or district attorney pursuant to this section or by the attorney general pursuant to an agreement under subsection (b).

(b) The attorney general may publish a schedule of such costs to be charged by the office of attorney general for services rendered by the attorney general, not to exceed the hourly rate provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-4507, and amendments thereto. The attorney general may enter into agreements with any county or district attorney for the payment of such costs and any such agreement shall supersede, in whole or in part as such agreement may provide, the schedule of costs published pursuant to this section.

(c) All moneys paid to the attorney general pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the criminal appeals cost fund, which is hereby created. Moneys in the criminal appeals cost fund may be expended by the attorney general for the purpose of representing the interests of the state in criminal appeals and post-conviction proceedings. All expenditures from the criminal appeals cost fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the attorney general or the attorney general’s designee.