Bill Text: NC S596 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Statewide Public Defender Offices

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-14 - Ref To Com On Judiciary I [S596 Detail]

Download: North_Carolina-2011-S596-Amended.html

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 596

 

 

Short Title:        Statewide Public Defender Offices.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Clary, Brock;  Apodaca, East, Hise, Pate, Rouzer, Rucho, Soucek, Stevens, and Tillman.
Referred to:	Judiciary I.

April 14, 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to direct the establishment of public defender offices on a statewide basis.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 7A‑498.7 reads as rewritten:

"(a)       The following counties of the State are organized into the defender districts listed below, and in each of those defender districts an office of public defender is established:  

Defender District                                                                      Counties

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1                                                                                              Camden, Chowan, Currituck,

                                                                                                Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

                                                                                                Perquimans

2                                                                                              Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrell,

                                                                                                Washington

3A 3                                                                                        Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, Pitt

3B                                                                                            Carteret

4                                                                                              Duplin, Jones, Onslow, Sampson

5                                                                                              New Hanover Hanover, Pender

6                                                                                              Bertie, Halifax, Hertford,

                                                                                                Northampton

7                                                                                              Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson

8                                                                                              Greene, Lenoir, Wayne

9                                                                                              Caswell, Franklin, Granville,

                                                                                                Person, Vance, Warren

10                                                                                            Wake

11                                                                                            Harnett, Johnston, Lee

12                                                                                            Cumberland

13                                                                                            Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus

14                                                                                            Durham

15B 15                                                                                     Alamance, Orange, Chatham

16A 16                                                                                    Scotland, Hoke Hoke, Robeson,

                                                                                                Scotland

16B                                                                                          Robeson

17                                                                                            Rockingham, Stokes, Surry

18                                                                                            Guilford

19                                                                                            Cabarrus, Montgomery, Moore,

                                                                                                Randolph, Rowan

20                                                                                            Anson, Richmond, Stanly, Union

21                                                                                            Forsyth

22                                                                                            Alexander, Davidson, Davie,

                                                                                                Iredell

23                                                                                            Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, Yadkin

24                                                                                            Avery, Madison, Mitchell,

                                                                                                Watauga, Yancey

25                                                                                            Burke, Caldwell, Catawba

26                                                                                            Mecklenburg

27A 27                                                                                    Gaston Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln

28                                                                                            Buncombe

29B 29                                                                                     Henderson, McDowell, Polk,

                                                                                                Rutherford, Transylvania

30                                                                                            Cherokee, Clay, Graham,

                                                                                                Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain.

After notice to, and consultation with, the affected district bar, senior resident superior court judge, and chief district court judge, the Commission on Indigent Defense Services may recommend to the General Assembly that a district or regional public defender office be established. A legislative act is required in order to establish a new office or to abolish an existing office."

SECTION 2.  The Judicial Department, Office of Indigent Defense Services, shall use available funds during the 2011‑2013 biennium for the expansion of existing public defender offices providing legal services to the indigent population under the oversight of the Office of Indigent Defense Services and for the creation of new public defender offices established by Section 1 of this act. These funds may be used for salaries, benefits, equipment, and related expenses.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2012.