| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | By: Coleman H.B. No. 3549 | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 5 | 5 | AN ACT | |
| 6 | 6 | relating to the appointment of counsel to represent indigent | |
| 7 | 7 | defendants. | |
| 8 | 8 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 9 | 9 | SECTION 1. Chapter 79, Government Code, is amended by | |
| 10 | 10 | adding Section 79.044 to read as follows: | |
| 11 | 11 | (a) This section applies only to a county with a population | |
| 12 | 12 | of more than 3.3 million. | |
| 13 | 13 | (b) The number of court appointments in criminal cases | |
| 14 | 14 | received by an attorney is not to exceed the guidelines contained in | |
| 15 | 15 | caseload studies published by the commission pursuant to House Bill | |
| 16 | 16 | 1318, 83rd Texas Legislature. | |
| 17 | 17 | (c) If information provided under Section 79.036(a-1) shows | |
| 18 | 18 | that the number of appointments made to an attorney accepting | |
| 19 | 19 | appointments in the county exceeds caseload guidelines, the county | |
| 20 | 20 | may withhold payment to that attorney for those cases that exceed | |
| 21 | 21 | the caseload guidelines. | |
| 22 | 22 | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |