Assembly Bill No. 625
CHAPTER 583

An act to add and repeal Section 15403 of the Government Code, relating to criminal defense.

[ Approved by Governor  October 06, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State  October 06, 2021. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 625, Arambula. State Public Defender: indigent defense: study.
Existing law authorizes the State Public Defender to represent any person financially unable to employ counsel in specified matters. The State Public Defender is authorized to employ deputies and other employees, and establish and operate offices, as they may need for the proper performance of their duties, and to contract with county public defenders, private attorneys, and nonprofit corporations for participation in the representation of eligible persons.
This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, require the State Public Defender, in consultation with the California Public Defenders Association and other subject matter experts, to undertake a study to assess appropriate workloads for public defenders and indigent defense attorneys and submit a report with their findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2024.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 15403 is added to the Government Code, to read:

15403.
 (a) Subject to an appropriation of funds by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or other measure made for purposes of this section, the State Public Defender, in consultation with the California Public Defenders Association and other subject matter experts, shall undertake a study to assess appropriate workloads for public defenders and indigent defense attorneys and shall submit a report with their findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2024.
(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2028.