2013 Senate Bill 300

Establish and impose minimum indigent defense standards

Introduced in the Senate

April 10, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-16)

To create a Michigan indigent defense commission to establish statewide standards and accountability measures for court-appointed attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, and establish a process by which all counties in the state would be required to conform with the standards. If a local failed to adopt them, the commission could take over its indigent defense administration, and impose a gradually increasing portion of the state’s costs for this, up to 40 percent. Locals would be responsible for maintaining funding at current levels, and all this would be subject to a detailed appeals process. The bill authorizes but does not fund state grants to cover increased costs.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

June 13, 2013

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 32 to 6 (details)

Received in the House

June 13, 2013

June 18, 2013

Amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Stallworth (D-7)

The amendment failed by voice vote

Sept. 12, 2013

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

The motion passed by voice vote

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary