Bill > AB690

This bill aims to improve the quality and fairness of indigent defense services in California by establishing new standards for how counties contract with attorneys who represent defendants who cannot afford their own legal representation. Commencing January 1, 2027, the bill would require counties and courts to include specific provisions in their indigent defense contracts, such as compliance with the Office of the State Public Defender's California Standards for Contract and Panel Defense Systems, ensuring attorneys have sufficient resources and time to provide competent representation, and allocating separate funds for case-related services like investigators and social workers. The bill explicitly prohibits flat fee contracts, which are compensation structures that provide a fixed dollar amount per case without regard to the actual time and resources required for representation. Counties will be required to submit their indigent defense contracts to the Office of the State Public Defender every two years and ensure that contracts provide an hourly rate or hourly rate equivalent. The legislation stems from concerns about high caseloads and potential financial conflicts of interest that can compromise legal representation for low-income defendants, and it seeks to guarantee that all Californians have access to effective legal counsel regardless of their economic circumstances.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB690