Bill > HB575

This bill expands the circumstances under which a public defender can be assigned in Montana, making two key changes to the state's public defender system. First, the bill adds a new provision allowing a court to assign a public defender to a parent in a proceeding to involuntarily terminate their parental rights, which was not previously specified in the law. Second, the bill creates an additional provision that permits a court to assign a public defender to serve as a member of a treatment court team, specifically for teams established under drug or veteran treatment court statutes. These changes are part of the ongoing refinement of Montana's statewide public defender system, which is designed to ensure that individuals who cannot afford legal representation or who are required by law to have counsel can receive legal support across various types of legal proceedings. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and amends section 47-1-104 of the Montana Code Annotated to implement these modifications to the existing public defender assignment protocols.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1518