05 LC 29
1717S
The
House Committee on Judiciary Non-civil offers the following
substitute
to HB 316:
to HB 316:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 17-12-27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the appointment of assistant public defenders, so as to provide for an
assistant public defender for the juvenile division within each circuit public
defender office; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 17-12-27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
appointment of assistant public defenders, is amended by striking subsection (a)
and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(a)
Subject to the provisions of this Code section, the circuit public defender in
each judicial circuit is authorized to appoint:
(1)
One assistant public defender for each superior court judge authorized for the
circuit, excluding the chief judge and senior judges;
and
(2)
One assistant
public defender for each full-time juvenile court judge authorized for the
circuit and in those circuits where there is no full-time juvenile court judge,
one assistant public defender for the juvenile division in that circuit;
and
(3)
Subject to funds being appropriated by the General Assembly or otherwise
available, additional assistant public defenders as may be authorized by the
council. In authorizing additional assistant public defenders, the council
shall consider the caseload, present staff, and resources available to each
circuit public
defender,
and shall make authorizations as will contribute to the efficiency of individual
circuit public defenders and the effectiveness of providing adequate legal
defense for indigent
defendants."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.