Relating to the state public defender pilot project and legal representation in child welfare cases

This bill permits the state public defender to establish a pilot project beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2024, to implement innovative models of parental and child legal representation in order to assist families involved in the child welfare system. The bill specifies that the state public defender shall have sole discretion to establish the pilot project in no more than six counties throughout the state. The bill allows the state public defender to coordinate with other agencies and organizations in order to implement the pilot project, seek grant funding, and measure the results. The bill also allows the state public defender to appoint an attorney to represent an indigent person prior to initiation of formal proceedings, without court order, if such representation is deemed appropriate by the state public defender and relates to the purposes of the pilot project. The bill allows attorneys appointed through the pilot project to be paid from the indigent defense fund.