House Bill 102 seeks 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 responsibilities for the Conflict Defender Division Administrator, including the development of a regional strategic plan for conflict defender services and managing caseloads. It also removes the requirement for the Director to set 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 mandates that the Director of the public defender system must be a licensed attorney and establishes protocols for the timely assignment of public defenders.

The bill further amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to public defender services, allowing private attorneys contracted for these services to also serve as court-appointed special advocates or guardians ad litem, provided there is no conflict of interest. It emphasizes the need for a competitive contracting process for public defenders and requires the office to submit a biennial report detailing operational metrics. Significant changes include the deletion of the training coordinator and contract manager positions, which are replaced by the central services division, and the establishment of the conflict defender division to represent clients in cases of conflict of interest. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability 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