Bill > S4151

Introduced Session

This bill provides that, if a municipality requires by ordinance that a person applying for representation by a municipal public defender pay an application fee, the municipal court would be required to provide notice to the applicant of the fee and the process to waive the fee in the event of any inability to pay. No fee other than that permitted by section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17) is to be assessed for representation by a municipal public defender Under the provisions of section 17 of P.L.1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17), a municipality may require that a person applying for municipal public defender representation to pay an application fee of not more than $200. The statute provides that the fee must be in an amount necessary to pay the costs of municipal public defender services. The municipal court may waive the application fee if the court determines upon a clear and convincing showing by the applicant that the fee represents an unreasonable burden on the person seeking representation. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment.

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Shirley Turner (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 11/30/2023)

Official Document