Louisiana SB448 amends the Louisiana Public Defender Act to ensure funds are used only for public defender services and respects local practices.
Louisiana SB448 amends the Louisiana Public Defender Act to ensure funds are used only for public defender services and respects local practices. It prohibits using funds for purposes other than public defender services and mandates that the office of the state public defender respect local differences in practice and custom. The bill also retains the prohibition on courts ordering the payment of funds for expert witnesses and allows indigent persons who have retained private counsel to apply for funds for expert witnesses. Effective August 1, 2026.
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- Overview
- Core Provisions
- Implementation
- Impact
- Legal Framework
- Critical Issues
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