RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 195 (HB 82) 2017 Regular Session Mack
Existing law provides that except for the inherent regulatory authority of the La. Supreme
Court provided for in La. Const. Art. V, §5 regarding the regulation of the practice of law,
the La. Public Defender Board shall have all regulatory authority, control, supervision, and
jurisdiction, including auditing and enforcement, and all power incidental or necessary to
such regulatory control, supervision, and jurisdiction over all aspects of the delivery of public
defender services throughout the courts of the state.
Existing law further provides for the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the board.
New law adds the following powers, duties, and responsibilities of the board:
(1)Supervise the activities of staff and apply reasonable controls for the supervision of
spending, accounting, and discretionary grants. Requires the board to seek the
assistance of the legislative auditor or an internal auditor to ensure staff's discretion
is subject to supervision consistent with the La. Local Government Budget Act.
Provides that the attorney-client privilege and confidentiality that applies to counsel
in cases shall apply to all board members and staff for the review of case details.
(2)Adopt reasonable procedures in compliance with the La. Rules of Professional
Conduct for reviewing and preserving the confidentiality of privileged materials
during and after litigation.
(3)Adopt necessary procedures to protect the strategic choices and confidential work
product of the board when considering important matters of spending.
Effective August 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 15:147(B)(17)-(19))