| 1 | 1 | | 84R18358 LEH-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Coleman H.B. No. 2825 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2825: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: Romero, Jr. C.S.H.B. No. 2825 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the provision and administration of indigent defense |
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| 10 | 10 | | services. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 79.037, Government Code, is amended by |
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| 13 | 13 | | amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read |
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| 14 | 14 | | as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) The commission shall distribute funds as described |
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| 16 | 16 | | [required] by Subsection (a)(2) or (e) based on the applicable [a] |
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| 17 | 17 | | county's compliance with standards adopted by the board and the |
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| 18 | 18 | | county's demonstrated commitment to compliance with the |
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| 19 | 19 | | requirements of state law relating to indigent defense. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) The board shall adopt policies to ensure that funds |
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| 21 | 21 | | under Subsection (a)(2) or (e) are allocated and distributed [to |
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| 22 | 22 | | counties] in a fair manner. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (e) The commission may award a grant to an entity described |
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| 24 | 24 | | by Section 791.013 that provides to a county administrative |
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| 25 | 25 | | services under an interlocal contract entered into for the purpose |
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| 26 | 26 | | of providing or improving the provision of indigent defense |
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| 27 | 27 | | services in the county. The commission shall monitor each entity |
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| 28 | 28 | | that receives a grant under this subsection and enforce compliance |
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| 29 | 29 | | with the conditions of the grant in the same manner as if the grant |
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| 30 | 30 | | were awarded directly to a county under Subsection (a)(2). |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 79, Government Code, is |
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| 32 | 32 | | amended by adding Section 79.040 to read as follows: |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 79.040. INDIGENT DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM. (a) By |
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| 34 | 34 | | entering into an interlocal contract with one or more counties |
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| 35 | 35 | | under Chapter 791, the commission may participate and assist |
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| 36 | 36 | | counties in the creation, implementation, operation, and |
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| 37 | 37 | | maintenance of a computerized system to be used to assist those |
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| 38 | 38 | | counties in the provision and administration of indigent defense |
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| 39 | 39 | | services and to be used to collect data from those counties |
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| 40 | 40 | | regarding representation of indigent defendants in this state. |
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| 41 | 41 | | (b) The commission may use appropriated funds to pay costs |
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| 42 | 42 | | incurred under an interlocal contract described by Subsection (a), |
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| 43 | 43 | | including license fees, implementation costs, maintenance and |
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| 44 | 44 | | operations costs, administrative costs, and any other costs |
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| 45 | 45 | | specified in the interlocal contract. |
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| 46 | 46 | | (c) The commission may provide training services to |
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| 47 | 47 | | counties on the use and operation of a system created, implemented, |
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| 48 | 48 | | operated, or maintained by one or more counties under Subsection |
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| 49 | 49 | | (a). |
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| 50 | 50 | | (d) Subchapter L, Chapter 2054, does not apply to an |
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| 51 | 51 | | indigent defense information system created under this section. |
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| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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