Bill Summary for H 374 (2015-2016)

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Summary date: 

Mar 26 2015

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2015-2016 Session
House Bill 374 (Public) Filed Thursday, March 26, 2015
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF AUTOMATED KIOSKS IN CERTAIN LOCAL CONFINEMENT FACILITIES TO ALLOW ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING INDIGENT DEFENDANTS TO CONSULT WITH THEIR CLIENTS REMOTELY.
Intro. by Stam, Reives, Faircloth.

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Bill summary

Appropriates $1.6 million for 2015‑16 from the General Fund to the Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) to establish a system of fully automated kiosks in certain local confinement facilities to allow attorneys representing indigent defendants to consult with their clients remotely. Requires the system to incorporate technology through which meetings between attorneys and their clients cannot be monitored or recorded, thereby preserving confidentiality. Allows the savings realized by using the system to be used at the discretion of the Commission on Indigent Defense Services to (1) continue funding for the use of the kiosk system or (2) increase the rates paid by the Office of Indigent Defense Services to private assigned counsel during the 2015‑17 fiscal biennium and provide comparable increases for contract attorneys during the 2015‑17 fiscal biennium. Requires IDS to report on the establishment and use of the kiosk system and the corresponding cost savings to the chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety, the chairs of the House Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety, and the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by February 1 of each year. Effective July 1, 2015.