S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6341

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 6, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  DeFRANCISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government

AN ACT to amend the county law and the executive  law,  in  relation  to
  indigent defense services

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings and declaration. It is  a  fundamental
right  of  all persons in the United States to be represented by counsel
in all criminal prosecutions. In the case of GIDEON V.  WAINWRIGHT,  372
U.S.  335,  the  United States Supreme Court ruled that indigent persons
accused in state felony cases who were unable to afford  counsel  had  a
constitutional right to be defended by an appointed attorney paid by the
state.  Subsequently, the Supreme Court determined that indigent persons
accused of any criminal charge that could result in imprisonment, wheth-
er a felony or misdemeanor, are entitled to counsel at  the  expense  of
the state.
  New  York state has chosen to fulfill its obligation to provide repre-
sentation to indigent persons accused of a crime by requiring each coun-
ty outside New York city and New York city to implement and fund a  plan
to  provide such representation. In 2006 the Commission on the Future of
Indigent Legal Services concluded that a system of county  operated  and
funded  indigent  defense  services failed to satisfy the constitutional
obligation to protect the rights of indigent persons accused of a crime.
Such Commission recommended that funding  for  indigent  legal  services
come from the State's general fund rather than from the counties.
  New  York state has entered into an agreement to settle a class action
lawsuit that alleged deprivation of the right to counsel in  five  coun-
ties.  The  agreement  acknowledges  that  the  Office of Indigent Legal
Services and the Indigent Legal Services Board are authorized "to  moni-
tor  and  study indigent legal services in the state, to recommend meas-
ures to improve those services, to award grant  monies  to  counties  to
support  their  indigent  representation  capability,  and  to establish
criteria for the distribution  of  such  funds."  While  the  settlement

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06929-05-5

S. 6341                             2

agreement pertains to only five counties, its criteria establish a stan-
dard for providing indigent legal services that should apply statewide.
  The  legislature  finds  and declares that in all criminal proceedings
against people unable to afford counsel, New  York  state  is  constitu-
tionally  required  to  provide public defense services. The legislature
further finds that the state is obligated to  undertake  initiatives  to
improve  the  quality  of  indigent  defense,  ensure  representation at
arraignment, implement caseload  standards  for  providers  of  indigent
legal services, and implement statewide standards for determining eligi-
bility  for  mandated  representation. Mandating counties to finance the
state's obligation to provide indigent legal services imposes a  signif-
icant  uncontrollable  financial  burden  on  counties dependent on real
property taxes to fund needed services, and subject to a  state  imposed
tax cap.
  The  legislature  finds  and  declares  that  in  order to fulfill its
constitutional obligation to provide indigent legal services, the  state
shall  pay  counties the full amount necessary to ensure the delivery of
quality legal services for indigent criminal defendants in a  consistent
manner throughout the State.
  S  2.  Section 722-e of the county law, as added by chapter 878 of the
laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows:
  S 722-e. Expenses. All expenses for  providing  counsel  and  services
other  than counsel hereunder shall be a county charge or in the case of
a county wholly located within a city a city charge to be paid out of an
appropriation for such purposes AND SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE  TO
THE  COUNTY  OR CITY PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN
THE STATE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING:
  (A) APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  SIXTEEN,  THE  STATE  SHALL  PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT  FOR  NOT  LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF SUCH EXPENSES;
AND
  (B) APRIL FIRST, TWO  THOUSAND  SEVENTEEN,  THE  STATE  SHALL  PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF SUCH EXPENSES; AND
  (C)  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN,  THE  STATE SHALL PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF  SUCH  EXPENSES;
AND
  (D)  EVERY  YEAR THEREAFTER, THE STATE SHALL PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR
THE FULL AMOUNT OF SUCH EXPENSES.
  S 3. Subdivision 3 of section 832 of the executive law is  amended  by
adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
  (O)  TO  ADOPT,  PROMULGATE, AMEND OR RESCIND RULES AND REGULATIONS TO
CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING TO  (I)  ENSURE  THE
PRESENCE  OF  COUNSEL  AT THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF ANY ELIGIBLE DEFENDANT
CHARGED WITH A CRIME, (II) ESTABLISH CASELOAD/WORKLOAD  REGULATIONS  FOR
ATTORNEYS  PROVIDING  MANDATED  REPRESENTATION THAT ALLOW FOR MEANINGFUL
AND EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, AND (III) IMPROVE  THE  QUALITY  OF
MANDATED REPRESENTATION.
  S  4.  Paragraphs  (l)  and (m) of subdivision 3 of section 832 of the
executive law, as added by section 1 of part E of chapter 56 of the laws
of 2010, are amended and a  new  paragraph  (n)  is  added  to  read  as
follows:
  (l)  to present findings and make recommendations for consideration by
the indigent legal services board established pursuant to section  eight
hundred thirty-three of this article; [and]
  (m)  to  execute decisions of the indigent legal services board estab-
lished pursuant to section eight hundred thirty-three of  this  article,
including the distribution of funds[.];

S. 6341                             3

  (N)  TO REVIEW THE PUBLIC DEFENSE OPERATIONS OF ANY COUNTY FOR COMPLI-
ANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS PROMULGATED  BY  THE  OFFICE
AND  TO  ENSURE THAT RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
EIGHTEEN-B OF THE COUNTY LAW ARE PROVIDED WITH MEANINGFUL AND  EFFECTIVE
REPRESENTATION  BEFORE  MAKING  REIMBURSEMENT  PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN
HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO-E OF THE COUNTY LAW; AND
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 6341--A

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 6, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  DeFRANCISCO,  AKSHAR,  AMEDORE,  BRESLIN, COMRIE,
  HASSELL-THOMPSON, LATIMER, LITTLE, MARCHIONE, O'MARA, RITCHIE, SERINO,
  SEWARD, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to
  be committed  to  the  Committee  on  Local  Government  --  committee
  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
  to said committee

AN  ACT to amend the county law, the executive law and the state finance
  law, in relation to indigent defense services

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative findings and declaration. It is a fundamental
right of all persons in the United States to be represented  by  counsel
in  all criminal prosecutions. In the case of GIDEON V.  WAINWRIGHT, 372
U.S. 335, the United States Supreme Court ruled  that  indigent  persons
accused  in  state  felony cases who were unable to afford counsel had a
constitutional right to be defended by an appointed attorney paid by the
state. Subsequently, the Supreme Court determined that indigent  persons
accused of any criminal charge that could result in imprisonment, wheth-
er  a  felony  or misdemeanor, are entitled to counsel at the expense of
the state.
  New York state has chosen to fulfill its obligation to provide  repre-
sentation to indigent persons accused of a crime by requiring each coun-
ty  outside New York city and New York city to implement and fund a plan
to provide such representation. In 2006 the Commission on the Future  of
Indigent  Legal  Services concluded that a system of county operated and
funded indigent defense services failed to  satisfy  the  constitutional
obligation to protect the rights of indigent persons accused of a crime.
Such  Commission  recommended  that  funding for indigent legal services
come from the State's general fund rather than from the counties.
  New York state has entered into an agreement to settle a class  action
lawsuit  that  alleged deprivation of the right to counsel in five coun-
ties. The agreement acknowledges  that  the  Office  of  Indigent  Legal
Services  and the Indigent Legal Services Board are authorized "to moni-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06929-08-6

S. 6341--A                          2

tor and study indigent legal services in the state, to  recommend  meas-
ures  to  improve  those  services, to award grant monies to counties to
support their  indigent  representation  capability,  and  to  establish
criteria  for  the  distribution  of  such  funds." While the settlement
agreement pertains to only five counties, its criteria establish a stan-
dard for providing indigent legal services that should apply statewide.
  The legislature finds and declares that in  all  criminal  proceedings
against  people  unable  to  afford counsel, New York state is constitu-
tionally required to provide public defense  services.  The  legislature
further  finds  that  the state is obligated to undertake initiatives to
improve the  quality  of  indigent  defense,  ensure  representation  at
arraignment,  implement  caseload  standards  for  providers of indigent
legal services, and implement statewide standards for determining eligi-
bility for mandated representation. Mandating counties  to  finance  the
state's  obligation to provide indigent legal services imposes a signif-
icant uncontrollable financial burden  on  counties  dependent  on  real
property  taxes  to fund needed services, and subject to a state imposed
tax cap.
  The legislature finds and  declares  that  in  order  to  fulfill  its
constitutional  obligation to provide indigent legal services, the state
shall pay counties the full amount necessary to ensure the  delivery  of
quality  legal services for indigent criminal defendants in a consistent
manner throughout the State.
  S 2. Section 722-e of the county law, as added by chapter 878  of  the
laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows:
  S  722-e.  Expenses.  All  expenses for providing counsel and services
other than counsel hereunder shall be a county charge or in the case  of
a county wholly located within a city a city charge to be paid out of an
appropriation  for such purposes AND SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE TO
THE COUNTY OR CITY PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,  THAT  IN
THE STATE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING:
  (A)  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  SIXTEEN,  THE  STATE  SHALL PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT  OF  SUCH  EXPENSES;
AND
  (B)  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  SEVENTEEN,  THE STATE SHALL PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF SUCH EXPENSES; AND
  (C) APRIL FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN,  THE  STATE  SHALL  PROVIDE
REIMBURSEMENT  FOR  NOT LESS THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF SUCH EXPENSES;
AND
  (D) EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER, THE STATE SHALL PROVIDE  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR
THE FULL AMOUNT OF SUCH EXPENSES.
  S  3.  Subdivision 3 of section 832 of the executive law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
  (O) TO ADOPT, PROMULGATE, AMEND OR RESCIND RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  TO
CARRY  OUT  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING TO (I) ENSURE THE
PRESENCE OF COUNSEL AT THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF  ANY  ELIGIBLE  DEFENDANT
CHARGED  WITH  A CRIME, (II) ESTABLISH CASELOAD/WORKLOAD REGULATIONS FOR
ATTORNEYS PROVIDING MANDATED REPRESENTATION THAT  ALLOW  FOR  MEANINGFUL
AND  EFFECTIVE  ASSISTANCE  OF COUNSEL, AND (III) IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
MANDATED REPRESENTATION.
  S 4. Paragraphs (l) and (m) of subdivision 3 of  section  832  of  the
executive law, as added by section 1 of part E of chapter 56 of the laws
of  2010,  are  amended  and  a  new  paragraph  (n) is added to read as
follows:

S. 6341--A                          3

  (l) to present findings and make recommendations for consideration  by
the  indigent legal services board established pursuant to section eight
hundred thirty-three of this article; [and]
  (m)  to  execute decisions of the indigent legal services board estab-
lished pursuant to section eight hundred thirty-three of  this  article,
including the distribution of funds[.];
  (N)  TO REVIEW THE PUBLIC DEFENSE OPERATIONS OF ANY COUNTY FOR COMPLI-
ANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS PROMULGATED  BY  THE  OFFICE
AND  TO  ENSURE THAT RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
EIGHTEEN-B OF THE COUNTY LAW ARE PROVIDED WITH MEANINGFUL AND  EFFECTIVE
REPRESENTATION  BEFORE  MAKING  REIMBURSEMENT  PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN
HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO-E OF THE COUNTY LAW; AND
  S 5. Subdivision 3 of section  98-b  of  the  state  finance  law,  as
amended  by  section  2  of part E of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is
amended to read as follows:
  3. Amounts distributed from such fund  shall  be  limited  to  amounts
appropriated therefor and shall be distributed as follows:
  (a)  The  office  of  court administration may expend a portion of the
funds available in such fund to provide assigned counsel paid in accord-
ance with section thirty-five of the judiciary law, up to an annual  sum
of twenty-five million dollars.
  (b) [An annual amount of forty million dollars shall be made available
to  the  city  of  New York from such fund for the provision of services
pursuant to article eighteen-B of the county law; provided that the city
of New York shall continue to provide at minimum the aggregate amount of
funding for public defense services including, but not limited  to,  the
amount  of  funding for contractors of public defense services and indi-
vidual defense attorneys, that it provided, pursuant  to  article  eigh-
teen-B  of the county law during its two thousand nine--two thousand ten
fiscal year.
  (c) Within the first fifteen days of March two thousand  eleven,  each
county other than a county wholly contained within the city of New York,
shall  receive ninety percent of the amount paid to such county in March
two thousand ten. Within the first fifteen days of  March  two  thousand
twelve, each county other than a county wholly contained within the city
of  New  York  shall  receive seventy-five percent of the amount paid to
such county in March two thousand ten. Within the first fifteen days  of
March  two  thousand  thirteen,  each  county other than a county wholly
contained within the city of New York shall receive fifty percent of the
amount paid to such county in March two thousand ten. Within  the  first
fifteen  days  of  March two thousand fourteen, each county other than a
county wholly contained within the city of New York shall receive  twen-
ty-five  percent of the amount paid to such county in March two thousand
ten. For all state fiscal years following the two thousand thirteen--two
thousand fourteen  fiscal  year,  there  shall  be  no  required  annual
payments  pursuant  to this paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph, for each of the four required payments made to  counties
within the first fifteen days of March two thousand eleven, two thousand
twelve,  two  thousand  thirteen and two thousand fourteen, Hamilton and
Orleans counties shall receive such percentage  payments  based  on  the
amounts  that  each county would have received in March two thousand ten
had it satisfied the maintenance of  effort  requirement  set  forth  in
paragraph  (c)  of  subdivision  four  of this section in effect on such
date.
  (d)] Remaining amounts within such fund, after accounting  for  annual
payments  required  in [paragraphs] PARAGRAPH (a)[, (b) and (c)] of this

S. 6341--A                          4

subdivision and subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (a) of  subdivision  two
of  this  section shall be distributed in accordance with sections eight
hundred thirty-two and eight hundred thirty-three of the executive law.
  S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.