CS/CS/HB 383 Summary

• Removes requirement that regional counsel employees follow Justice Administrative Commission classification and salary plans, allowing regional counsels to develop their own compensation recommendations

• Modifies Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission procedures to nominate currently serving regional counsel for reappointment and up to three additional qualified candidates (changed from up to five) for each of five regional counsel positions

• Prohibits courts from appointing regional counsel to represent defendants who have retained private counsel on the same case

• Extends access to confidential information and records to regional counsels for proceedings involving juveniles, children in dependency cases, and inmates subject to involuntary mental health treatment

• Authorizes criminal conflict and civil regional counsel offices to obtain fictitious motor vehicle and vessel plates/decals and includes regional counsel investigators in definition of law enforcement officers for death benefit eligibility purposes

• Effective July 1, 2022