105.716.  Attorney general to handle claims, exceptions — certain departments to reimburse fund — prior to settlement, payment of certain legal expenses authorized, when. — 1.  Any investigation, defense, negotiation, or compromise of any claim covered by sections 105.711 to 105.726 shall be conducted by the attorney general; provided, that in the case of any claim against the department of conservation, the department of transportation or a public institution which awards baccalaureate degrees, or any officer or employee of such department or^* such institution, any investigation, defense, negotiation, or compromise of any claim covered by sections 105.711 to 105.726 shall be conducted by legal counsel provided by the respective entity against which the claim is made or which employs the person against whom the claim is made.  In the case of any payment from the state legal expense fund based upon a claim or judgment against the department of conservation, the department of transportation or any officer or employee thereof, the department so affected shall immediately transfer to the state legal expense fund from the department funds a sum equal to the amount expended from the state legal expense fund on its behalf.

  2.  All persons and entities protected by the state legal expense fund shall cooperate with the attorneys conducting any investigation and preparing any defense under the provisions of sections 105.711 to 105.726 by assisting such attorneys in all respects, including the making of settlements, the securing and giving of evidence, and the attending and obtaining witness to attend hearings and trials.  Funds in the state legal expense fund shall not be used to pay claims and judgments against those persons and entities who do not cooperate as required by this subsection.

  3.  The provisions of sections 105.711 to 105.726 notwithstanding, the attorney general may investigate, defend, negotiate, or compromise any claim covered by sections 105.711 to 105.726 against any public institution which awards baccalaureate degrees whose governing body has declared a state of financial exigency.

  4.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2 of section 105.711, funds in the state legal expense fund may be expended prior to the payment of any claim or any final judgment to pay costs of defense, including reasonable attorney's fees for retention of legal counsel, when the attorney general determines that a conflict exists or particular expertise is^** required, and also to pay for related legal expenses including medical examination fees, expert witness fees, court reporter expenses, travel costs and ancillary legal expenses incurred prior to the payment of a claim or any final judgment.