This bill mandates that the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) provide legal representation to indigent defendants charged with contempt violations related to specific domestic violence orders. It specifically addresses defendants charged under N.J.S.2C:29-9 for violating orders issued under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991. However, the bill excludes certain types of orders from this provision, including those related to parenting time, monetary compensation for victims, mandatory counseling, and financial obligations like rent or mortgage payments.

The legislation aims to expand the OPD's responsibilities to ensure that indigent defendants facing potential imprisonment for contempt violations of domestic violence orders receive legal representation. This aligns with recommendation 29 from the June 2023 report of the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.