The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 179 on the commission on court appointed attorneys authored by Sen. Koch. The bill amends the name of the Indiana Public Defender Commission to the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys, provides for a seven-county pilot that would reimburse 100% for misdemeanor cases through June 30, 2029, for compliance with commission standards and pilot reporting requirements, and requires county clerks to annually report fees deposited and transferred under Ind. Code § 35-33-7-6 to the commission. The bill was amended by consent to increase the amount the court shall order to $200 for felony action and $100 for misdemeanor action if the court finds them able to pay part of the cost of representation and amends the distribution of these fees.
A representative from the Marion County Reentry Coalition testified in opposition to the increase in fees that could be charged in these cases. The amended bill passed 9-2 and was recommitted to Senate Appropriations.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/senate/179