Providing for representation of adoptive parents by local public defenders

This bill provides for the representation of certain indigent parties in adoption proceedings. Under current law, a local public defender office shall represent an indigent party, upon order of the court, in child in need of assistance, family in need of assistance, delinquency, and termination of parental rights proceedings pursuant to Code chapter 232 (juvenile justice) when designated by the state public defender to represent the indigent party in the type of case for that county. The bill requires, additionally, that a local public defender office shall represent in a subsequent adoption proceeding an indigent party who files an adoption petition to adopt a child who was the subject of a termination of parental rights proceeding pursuant to Code chapter 232 in which the local public defender office was involved. If a conflict of interest arises, the representation shall be provided through referral of the indigent party to outside counsel with whom the state public defender has contracted, subject to the fees for legal services incorporated in the contract.