CA AB690

Prohibits counties and courts from entering into flat fee or per case compensation contracts for indigent defense services, effective January 1, 2027

Requires all indigent defense contracts to comply with the Office of the State Public Defender's California Standards for Contract and Panel Defense Systems and include separate funding allocations for case-related services like investigators, social workers, and immigration counsel

Mandates that contract structures ensure attorneys have adequate resources and time for competent representation, considering workload studies such as the 2023 RAND Corporation National Public Defense Workload Study

Requires counties contracting with private entities or law firms for indigent defense services to submit those contracts to the Office of the State Public Defender every two years, including the hourly rate or hourly rate equivalent

Requires contracts to include provisions allowing contractors to seek modifications if caseloads or costs exceed initial projections