TITLE: Relating to the oversight of a public defender's office by a county's chief administrator.

SUMMARY: Relating to the oversight of a public defender's office by a county's chief administrator.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the oversight of a public defender's office by a county's chief administrator. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 26.044, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (o) to read as follows: (o) The commissioners court may delegate to the chief administrator of the county, or, if the public defender's office serves more than one county, the commissioners courts may jointly delegate to the chief administrator of one of the counties, any power or duty of a commissioners court to provide oversight of the office, including: (1) the selection and removal of a chief public defender; and (2) the development of a budget proposal for the office. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.