Bill Text: NJ S896 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Expands Office of Public Defender representation of juveniles; repeals section 4 of P.L. 1968, c.371.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-01-18 - Approved P.L.2021, c.383. [S896 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S896-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 896

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 27, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Expands Office of Public Defender representation of juveniles; repeals section 4 of P.L.1968, c.371. 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on February 24, 2020, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning legal representation of certain juveniles ¹[and amending and],¹ supplementing P.L.1968, c.371¹, and repealing section 4 of P.L.1968, c.371¹.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    ¹[(New section)]¹ Any person under the age of 18 years arrested or charged with an indictable offense or act of delinquency shall automatically be eligible, at no expense to that person, for representation by the Office of the Public Defender.

 

     ¹[2.  Section 4 of P.L.1968, c.371 (C.2A:158A-25) is amended to read as follows: 

     Whenever a person formally charged with an indictable offense, or coming within this act, is at least 18 years of age but under the age of 21 years, the question of eligibility for services shall be measured not only in terms of the financial circumstances of the [individual] person, but also in terms of the financial circumstances of the [individual's] person's parents or legal guardians.  The Office of the Public Defender shall be entitled to recover the cost of legal services from the parents or legal guardians of [such] these persons to the same extent and in the same manner as is  provided under P.L.1967, chapter 43, and shall have authority to require these parents or legal guardians [of such] to execute and deliver [such] written requests  or authorization as may be requisite under applicable law in order to provide  the office with access to records of public or private sources, otherwise  confidential, as may be of aid to it in evaluating eligibility.

(cf: P.L.1968, c. 371, s.4)]¹

 

     ¹2.   Section 4 of P.L.1968, c.371 (C.2A:158A-25) is repealed.¹

 

     3.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment.