House Study Bill 565 - Introduced SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER BILL) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the appointment of counsel by the court for 1 an indigent person, and including effective date provisions. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5354XD (3) 91 as/js

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 815.10, subsection 3, Code 2026, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 3. If the court determines that no contract attorney is 3 available to represent the person, the court may shall appoint 4 a noncontract attorney. The order of appointment shall include 5 a specific finding that no contract attorney was available. 6 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 7 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 8 EXPLANATION 9 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 10 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 11 This bill relates to the appointment of counsel by the court 12 for an indigent person. 13 Current law provides that if no contract attorney is 14 available for appointment by the court, the court may appoint 15 a noncontract attorney. 16 The bill provides that if the court determines that no 17 contract attorney is available to represent the person, the 18 court is required to appoint a noncontract attorney. 19 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 20 -1- LSB 5354XD (3) 91 as/js 1/ 1