State Public Defender: county public defenders: data collection

The law creates statewide visibility into how counties structure, staff, fund, and assign public-defense work. Its duties begin only after the Legislature appropriates funding.

What the law does ​

• Requires each county board of supervisors to designate an oversight contact and collect information about its public-defense system.
• Requires data on defense-system type, case-assignment practices, budgets and spending, staffing, caseloads, and compensation models.
• Requires counties to report the data to the Office of the State Public Defender every two years starting January 1, 2029.
• Requires the Office of the State Public Defender to accommodate counties' structural differences in reporting procedures and post a public summary online.
• Provides for local-cost reimbursement if the Commission on State Mandates determines reimbursement is required.

Who it affects ​

• County boards of supervisors and county public-defense programs.
• Public defenders, alternate public defenders, private-attorney programs, and active private defense attorneys.
• The Office of the State Public Defender.

Context ​

County reporting and state publication duties take effect only upon a legislative appropriation.