Bill Summary: HF2059 - Public Defender Representation and Reimbursement

• Establishes specific income-based financial eligibility guidelines for public defender appointment: 125% of federal poverty guidelines for misdemeanors, 150% for gross misdemeanors, and 175% for felonies.

• Requires courts to inquire into defendants' ability to pay and order reimbursement to the state for public defender costs when defendants become employed or have financial means, with flexibility for reduced payment schedules.

• Clarifies that the Board of Public Defense is solely responsible for providing counsel in criminal and juvenile cases under section 611.14, while prohibiting courts from appointing advisory or standby counsel at the Board's expense.

• Requires courts to inquire into parents' ability to pay for appointed counsel in juvenile delinquency and child protection cases, and allows courts to order parent reimbursement for counsel costs based on income and assets.

• Authorizes courts to order reimbursement of reasonable attorney fees when prosecuting attorneys appeal pretrial orders, capped at $5,000 per case unless chief judge certifies necessity for higher amount due to unusual circumstances.