The bill seeks to revise the laws governing the Office of State Public Defender in Montana by establishing a clear distinction between conflict and nonconflict regional offices. It introduces new duties for the Conflict Defender Division Administrator, Appellate Defender Division Administrator, and Central Services Division Administrator, which include developing strategic plans for service delivery, managing caseloads, and ensuring compliance with standards set by the Montana Supreme Court. The bill also removes the requirement for the Director to establish specific standards for child abuse and neglect matters and revises the responsibilities of the Central Services Division to encompass managing contracted services and agency training efforts.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the qualifications and responsibilities of public defender administrators, including the requirement that the Director of the public defender system must be a licensed attorney in Montana. It allows private attorneys contracted for public defender services to also serve as court-appointed special advocates or guardians ad litem, provided there is no conflict of interest. The bill emphasizes the need for administrative oversight of contracted public defenders, mandates the development of training programs, and requires the office to submit a biennial report on operational metrics, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability within the public defender system.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(1): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(2): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(3): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(4): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(5): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(6): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(7): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(8): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1(9): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_1: 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X(1): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X(2): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X(3): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X(4): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X(5): 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401
HB0102_X: 18-4-132, 47-1-104, 47-1-105, 47-1-119, 47-1-125, 47-1-201, 47-1-202, 47-1-215, 47-1-301, 47-1-401