IL SB2036

Creates the Public Defender Bail Reform Grant Program administered by the State Appellate Defender under direction of the State Appellate Defender Commission to assist county public defenders in implementing bail hearing counsel requirements.

Eligible counties are those that have not employed a full-time public defender on or before January 1, 2021, with the Commission able to establish additional county population thresholds for eligibility.

Grant applications must be submitted by the chief judge of the Circuit Court in which the county is located, who will administer the grant; multiple eligible counties in the same circuit may apply jointly.

State Appellate Defender shall request grant program funds within its annual appropriation and may seek additional contributions and grants to supplement state funds.

State Appellate Defender may establish internship programs with law schools for bail hearing representation training and may seek Supreme Court approval to use provisionally licensed law students to represent individuals in eligible counties.