HOUSE BILL 255

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Rhonda S. King

FOR THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER; PROVIDING COMPENSATION RATES FOR CONTRACT ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION IN DEATH PENALTY CASES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 31-15-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 156, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "31-15-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Chapter 31, Article 15 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Public Defender Act"."

     Section 2. A new section of the Public Defender Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CONTRACT ATTORNEY COMPENSATION IN DEATH PENALTY CASES.--A contract negotiated by the department with an attorney for representation in a death penalty case shall provide for attorney fee rates on the same basis as the attorney fee schedule set by the risk management division of the general services department."

     Section 3. APPROPRIATION.--Eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public defender department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to contract with attorneys for the representation of defendants in death penalty cases. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2007.

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