STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 812

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblyman VERRELLI)

ADOPTED: MARCH 1, 2021

      These Assembly amendments clarify that no fee other than that permitted by section 17 of P.L. 1997, c.256 (C.2B:24-17) shall be assessed for representation by a municipal public defender.

      The bill, as introduced, provided that if a municipality requires by ordinance that a person applying for representation by a municipal public defender pay an application fee, the municipal court would be required to provide notice to the applicant of the fee and any additional potential fees, as well as the process to waive the fees in the event of an inability to pay.