House Bill 1415 Summary

• Establishes the Public Defender Oversight Council with 9 members appointed by supervisors, lieutenant governor, house speaker, and chief justice to set standards for indigent defense systems and oversee compliance statewide.

• Creates an Indigent Appeals Division within the Office of State Public Defender to provide appellate representation for indigent felony defendants and juveniles adjudicated delinquent.

• Establishes a Division of District Public Defender in each circuit court district, with a district public defender appointed on recommendation of a selection panel to oversee local indigent defense delivery.

• Restructures public defender funding to come from state general appropriations rather than separate special funds, with district public defenders to receive salaries at 90% of district attorney levels and counties providing office space and administrative support on a per capita basis.

• Revises appointment of counsel in delinquency and youth court cases, limiting waiver of counsel rights and requiring notification to public defenders when intake recommendations are made.