Legislation Details

File #: 24-5074    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Transmittal Status: Accepted
File created: 8/13/2024 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 8/27/2024 Final action: 8/27/2024
Title: Transmittal by the District Courts of increased indigent defense fee rates for settings and hearings approved by the Juvenile Board on June 26, 2024, and effective September 5, 2024.
Attachments: 1. Harris County Juvenile District Courts Attorney Fees Expenses Claim Form

Department: District Courts

Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Transmittal

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):

 

MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Transmittal by the District Courts of increased indigent defense fee rates for settings and hearings approved by the Juvenile Board on June 26, 2024, and effective September 5, 2024.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The new fee schedule brings hourly rates into alignment with the indigent defense rates of the District Criminal Courts and County Criminal Courts at Law, as mandated by the Harris Juvenile Board Plan Fair Defense Act Standards and Procedures for Appointment of Counsel for Juvenile Respondents.

 

Expected Impact:

Enhanced retention of appointed attorneys as they will now be paid rates comparable to their counterparts who provide indigent defense for the District Criminal Courts and County Criminal Courts at Law.

 

Alternative Options:

None.

 

Alignment with Goal(s):

X Justice and Safety

_ Economic Opportunity

_ Housing

_ Public Health

_ Transportation

_ Flooding

_ Environment

_ Governance and Customer Service

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

 

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

  FY24 portion

FY25 portion

Grant

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Current Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Request

$

$

$

$

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date:  August 27, 2024

 

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): September 5, 2024

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Richard Woods, Court Administrator, District Courts

 

Attachments (if applicable):  Harris County Juvenile District Courts Attorney Fees Expense Claim Voucher Form