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House Bill 1267 |
House Author: Pena |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
Senate Sponsor: Seliger et al. |
House Bill 1267 amends provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Government Code, and Local Government Code relating to the compensation of counsel appointed to represent an indigent defendant. The bill authorizes an attorney representing an indigent defendant to appeal a request for payment if it has not been acted upon within 60 days of submission. The bill establishes an indigent defense representation fund that consists of money collected from a newly created $2 fee paid by a person convicted of any offense, other than an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a vehicle. The fund may be used only for purposes for which the fair defense account for use by the Task Force on Indigent Defense may be used, including appropriate compensation of appointed counsel.
House Bill 1267 requires the state to reimburse a county for all compensation and expenses awarded by the court to a counsel appointed to represent an indigent inmate charged with an offense while in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and modifies procedures for reimbursement.