To create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and establish a process by which all counties in the state would be required to conform with the standards. If a local failed to adopt them, the commission could take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Locals would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels, and all this would be subject to a detailed mediation and appeals process. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and if the state Supreme Court agrees, establish procedures by which an agency would be created to enforce expeditious adoption of the standards in local jurisdictions. If a local failed to adopt them, this agency would take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Local governments would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.