House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes amendments to various articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Louisiana, focusing on pretrial procedures. Key changes include the stipulation that if a court determines a defendant is indigent, the court must appoint counsel to represent them from their initial appearance until the case concludes, unless the defendant opts to hire private counsel. Additionally, the bill allows defendants to preserve their request for a preliminary examination in writing prior to indictment and mandates that if a preliminary examination is ordered, the court must appoint qualified counsel for indigent defendants.

The bill also modifies the timeframes for filing bills of information or indictments, reducing the time allowed for misdemeanors and felonies, and introduces provisions for the service of subpoenas. It allows subpoenas to be issued at any point after a defendant's initial arrest, even if prosecution has not yet commenced. Furthermore, the bill establishes that upon a motion from an arrested person, the court can appoint a qualified individual to serve process, similar to the duties of a sheriff. These changes aim to enhance the efficiency and fairness of pretrial procedures in the criminal justice system.