South Dakota is shifting responsibility for paying public defenders from individual counties to a new state Commission on Indigent Legal Services, which will now handle funding legal representation for people who cannot afford attorneys. Instead of each county deciding how to provide these services and paying for them locally, the state commission will manage the system and compensate appointed attorneys according to guidelines set by circuit court judges. This consolidates what has been a county-by-county system into a statewide approach to ensure consistent funding for indigent legal defense.
AI-generated summary
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
Judiciary Tabled Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0.
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
House of Representatives Referred to House Judiciary H.J. 208
First Reading House H.J. 193
Prime sponsor · Rep
R
Dist. HD-012
Tabled
Tabled