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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of counsel to represent indigent |
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defendants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 79, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 79.044 to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to a county with a population |
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of more than 3.3 million. |
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(b) The number of court appointments in criminal cases |
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received by an attorney is not to exceed the guidelines contained in |
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caseload studies published by the commission pursuant to House Bill |
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1318, 83rd Texas Legislature. |
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(c) If information provided under Section 79.036(a-1) shows |
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that the number of appointments made to an attorney accepting |
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appointments in the county exceeds caseload guidelines, the county |
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may withhold payment to that attorney for those cases that exceed |
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the caseload guidelines. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |