The Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. John Young’s HB 1453 on appellate defender and misdemeanor reimbursement. The author testified that this was brought by the Public Defender Commission. This bill establishes the office of the state appellate defender and the juvenile defense office to provide direct appeals for indigent individuals. It also provides that a county may be reimbursed for indigent services provided for misdemeanors in a superior or circuit court.
This bill is in response to a study by the Sixth Amendment Center. The bill was amended by consent to exempt Lake County because of its established appellate office; a representative from Lake County testified in support of this bill as amended. Representatives from the Association of Cities and Towns, Public Defender Commission and Public Defender Council testified in favor of the bill. The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill here: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1453