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GA HB648
Bill
Status
Engrossed
3/5/2012
Primary Sponsor
Stacey Abrams
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AI Summary
- Dedicates certain court fees, filing fees, and assessments to the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council specifically for funding legal defense services for indigent persons accused of crimes and delinquent acts, rather than directing those funds to the general state treasury
- Requires interest earned on funds held by superior court, state court, probate court, and magistrate court clerks in interest-bearing trust accounts to be distributed to the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council pursuant to a constitutional provision
- Maintains a $15.00 civil filing fee in superior, state, recorder's, mayor's, magistrate, and probate courts and a $50.00 application fee for indigent defense services, but dedicates these amounts to the Public Defender Standards Council for indigent defense funding
- Clarifies that the council's budget may exceed the amount collected through dedicated fees and that the General Assembly may appropriate additional funding beyond the constitutional dedication as it deems appropriate
- Becomes effective only if a corresponding constitutional amendment is ratified at the November 2012 general election; if the amendment is not ratified, the Act is automatically repealed on January 1, 2013
Legislative Description
Legal services for indigents; certain fees to fund accused; change provisions
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred
3/7/2012
Committee Referrals
Appropriations3/7/2012
Judiciary - Non-Civil4/14/2011
Full Bill Text
No bill text available