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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6498
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C 156 L 88
State of Washington 50th Legislature 1988 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Nelson, Newhouse, Talmadge, Halsan and Hayner)
Read first time 2/5/88.
AN ACT Relating to counsel for indigent persons; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) A committee is created to study the current system in Washington state for providing representation to persons who could not otherwise afford counsel.
(2) The committee shall consist of the following members:
(a) One member appointed by the governor;
(b) One member appointed by the office of financial management;
(c) One member appointed by the department of community development;
(d) One member appointed by the chief justice of the state supreme court;
(e) Two members appointed by the Washington State Bar Association, at least one of whom currently provides indigent criminal defense representation;
(f) One member appointed by the association of counties;
(g) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(h) One member appointed by the president of the senate.
(3) A full-time staff position shall be created within the administrator for the courts to administer the work of the committee and prepare a report to the legislature. The committee and the staff position shall expire on February 1, 1989.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The committee shall review the current systems for providing appellate and trial representation to indigent persons in all cases where right to counsel attaches. On or before January 1, 1989, the committee shall report to the judiciary committee of the house of representatives, the law and justice committee of the senate, and the governor on improving the delivery of indigent defense services at the appellate and trial levels. The report shall:
(1) Summarize the current methods of providing indigent services in the state, their costs, and caseloads;
(2) Recommend standards and guidelines for determining appropriate levels of experience and caseload for attorneys under the program;
(3) Establish guidelines to determine who should be eligible to receive legal services;
(4) Recommend alternatives to the current methods of providing and financing appellate and trial services;
(5) Recommend levels of training and supervision of attorneys providing appellate and trial services;
(6) Recommend appropriate levels of compensation and support staff;
(7) Recommend standards for determining indigency.