The bill amends RCW 10.101.030 to clarify the standards for public defense services that local jurisdictions must adopt. It mandates that each county or city establish standards for the delivery of public defense services, which can be provided through contracts, assigned counsel, or public defender offices. The standards must cover various aspects, including compensation, case load limits, responsibilities of counsel, and the handling of client complaints, among others.

Significantly, the bill removes the previous requirement for local legislative authorities to use the standards endorsed by the Washington State Bar Association as guidelines. Instead, it introduces a new provision stating that if practicable, the standards adopted by local authorities should comply with Washington state court rules for public defense services and may incorporate non-conflicting provisions from the Washington State Bar Association's standards. This change aims to ensure that local jurisdictions have the flexibility to align their public defense standards with existing court rules while still considering best practices from the bar association.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 10.101.030