13B.13 State public defender pilot project — child welfare legal representation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, for each fiscal year for the period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2024, the state public defender may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation in order to assist families involved in the child welfare system. The state public defender shall have sole discretion to establish and implement the pilot project. The state public defender may implement the new pilot project in up to six counties throughout the state. The purpose of the pilot project is to implement and study innovative ways, through a team approach or through other methods, to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. The state public defender may coordinate with other agencies and organizations to implement the pilot project, seek grant funding, and measure the results. The state public defender may appoint an attorney to represent an indigent person prior to initiation of formal proceedings, without court order, if such representation is deemed appropriate by the state public defender and relates to the purposes of the pilot project.
2020 Acts, ch 1040, §1
Referred to in §815.11
Structure Iowa Code
Title I - STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND MANAGEMENT
Chapter 13B - PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Section 13B.2 - Position established.
Section 13B.2A - Indigent defense — report — court-appointed counsel fees.
Section 13B.3 - Qualifications of state public defender.
Section 13B.4 - Duties and powers of state public defender.
Section 13B.4A - Confidentiality of indigent defense claim records.
Section 13B.4B - Confidentiality of indigent defense claim records.
Section 13B.6 - Account established.
Section 13B.7 - Legal services to inmates.
Section 13B.8 - Office of local public defender.
Section 13B.8A - Public defender property.
Section 13B.9 - Powers and duties of local public defenders — referrals to outside counsel.
Section 13B.10 - Determination of indigence.
Section 13B.11 - State appellate defender.
Section 13B.12 - Gideon fellowship.
Section 13B.13 - State public defender pilot project — child welfare legal representation.