The proposed bill, General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 6747, aims to amend section 51-279 of the general statutes to exclude veterans' federal service-connected disability benefits from the financial assessment used to determine a criminal defendant's eligibility for public defender assistance based on indigency. Specifically, the bill stipulates that when a defendant requests representation by a public defender, any evaluation of their financial capability to secure legal representation will not take into account the service-connected disability benefits provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

This legislative change is intended to ensure that veterans do not face barriers to legal representation due to their disability benefits, which may otherwise be considered as part of their financial resources. By excluding these benefits from the eligibility criteria, the bill seeks to promote fair access to legal assistance for veterans who may be in need of public defense services.