NC H1020

Restructures the Commission on Indigent Defense Services from 13 members with representation from multiple legal organizations to a 13-member commission with appointments by the Chief Justice (3 members including the Director of Administrative Office of the Courts), Governor (2 members), General Assembly (6 members total), State Bar (1 member), and Bar Association (1 member).

Removes appointment authority from the North Carolina Public Defenders Association, Academy of Trial Lawyers, Association of Black Lawyers, and Association of Women Lawyers, with their existing members' seats transitioning to appointments by the Chief Justice, Governor, or General Assembly upon term expiration.

Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to consult directly with a Commission quorum before modifying the Office of Indigent Defense Services budget, replacing the previous requirement that modifications occur without Commission approval.

Expands annual reporting requirements to include specific data on total final costs of capital and potentially capital cases, and requires reporting on decisions to create new satellite capital defender offices including county coverage and available counsel information.

Directs the Office of Indigent Defense Services to evaluate the need for new satellite capital defender offices, identify cases meriting capital prosecution and defense, and consider establishing regional public defender offices, with findings due to the legislature by March 15, 2017.