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MS SB2545
Bill
AI Summary
- Creates the Mississippi Public Defender Oversight and Accountability Commission, a seven-member body to govern the Office of State Public Defender
- Transfers authority to appoint and remove the State Defender from the Governor to the commission; the State Defender serves as executive director with a four-year term
- Commission members appointed by the Governor with Senate consent: five members from each Court of Appeals district and two at-large members, serving staggered three-year terms
- Requires the commission to establish evidence-based policies for indigent defense, including standards for determining indigency, maximum caseloads, minimum attorney qualifications, and hourly rates for appointed counsel
- Mandates the commission maintain records on each county's indigent defense system, caseloads, and expenditures, and recommend appropriate legislation to the Legislature
Legislative Description
Public Defender Oversight and Accountability Commission; create.
Last Action
Died In Conference
3/30/2015
Committee Referrals
Judiciary A2/26/2015
Judiciary, Division A1/19/2015
Full Bill Text
No bill text available