House Bill 102 aims to revise the laws governing the Office of State Public Defender in Montana by establishing a clear distinction between conflict and non-conflict regional offices. The bill introduces new duties for the Conflict Defender Division Administrator, including the development of a regional strategic plan for conflict defender services and managing caseloads. It also revises the responsibilities of the Appellate Defender Division Administrator and the Central Services Division, which will now include managing contracted services and agency training efforts. Key changes include the removal of the requirement for the director to establish specific standards for child abuse and neglect matters, and the introduction of new titles for division personnel, such as Regional Public Defenders and Managing Public Defenders.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to the public defender system, focusing on the qualifications, duties, and compensation of public defender administrators. It allows private attorneys contracted to provide 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 a competitive contracting process for public defenders and mandates the central services division to develop training programs and practice standards. It also requires the submission of a biennial report detailing the operations and performance of the public defender system, including caseload data and training programs conducted, ultimately seeking to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public defender services in Montana.

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