H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Subpart XVIII-B: Office of Indigent Defense Services (SL 2015-241)
Session Year 2015
Section 18B.3. Reports on Criminal Case Information System
Sec. 18B.3 of S.L. 2015-241 amends the implementation date and reporting requirements of a provision from previous appropriations acts directing the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in consultation with the Office of Indigent Defense Services, to develop or acquire and to implement a component of its criminal case information system for use by public defenders. This section changes the date for final implementation of the system component from February 1, 2015, to February 1, 2016, adds a requirement for quarterly reports on the development and implementation of the system, including costs, milestones and performance measures, and changes the date for a final report on the completed implementation of the system from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016.
This section became effective June 30, 2015.
Section 18B.4. Study Efficiency of Establishing a System of Automated Kiosks in Local Confinement Facilities to Allow Attorneys Representing Indigent Defendants to Consult with Their Clients Remotely
Sec. 18B.4 of S.L. 2015-241 directs the AOC, in conjunction with the Office of Indigent Defense Services and the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, to study and determine whether savings can be realized through the establishment of a system of fully automated kiosks in local confinement facilities to allow attorneys representing indigent defendants to consult with their clients remotely. The system would incorporate technology through which meetings between attorneys and their clients cannot be monitored or recorded, would provide for end-to-end message encryption, and would have scheduling software integrated into the system. This section directs the AOC to reports its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for at least two potential pilot sites for the proposed system, to the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees on Justice and Public Safety and the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety (JPS Oversight Committee) by February 1, 2016.
This section became effective July 1, 2015.
Section 18B.5. Study Fee Schedules Used by Office of Indigent Defense Services
Sec. 18B.5 of S.L. 2015-241 directs the JPS Oversight Committee to study the creation and implementation of fee schedules to be used by the Office of Indigent Defense Services to compensate private assigned counsel representing indigent defendants and to report its findings and recommendations in its report to the 2015 General Assembly when it reconvenes in 2016.
This section became effective July 1, 2015.
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