Bill Summary for H 374 (2015-2016)

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Summary date: 

Apr 15 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

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Adds that the system of kiosks in local confinement facilities must include technology allowing meetings between attorneys, clients, and authorized third parties at separate locations (was, between attorneys and their clients) that cannot be monitored or recorded. Adds the requirement that the Office of Indigent Defense Services issue a Request for Proposal from vendors by July 31, 2015. Specifies that the vendor will be chosen for an initial two-year period, will continue to own the kiosks, and will oversee access to the kiosks. Provides that during the two years, attorneys assigned to represent indigent clients will not pay direct costs of using the kiosks. 

Requires that the savings realized through the use of the kiosk system be used to reduce the carry forward debt incurred through payments to private assigned counsel during 2013-15, and then to the extent that there are additional savings, increase the rates paid to private assigned counsel and contract attorneys.