HB 4221

relating to the policies and standards of the Texas Indigent
Defense Commission applicable to the provision of indigent defense
services or family protection services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 79.034(a-1), Government Code, is amended
(a-1)  The policies and standards must [may] include:
(1)  performance standards for counsel appointed to
represent indigent individuals;
(2)  qualification standards under which attorneys may
qualify for appointment to represent:
(A)  indigent defendants, including:
(i)  qualifications commensurate with the
seriousness of the nature of the proceeding;
(ii)  qualifications appropriate for
representation of mentally ill defendants and noncitizen
(iii)  successful completion of relevant
continuing legal education programs approved by the council; and
(iv)  testing and certification standards;
(B)  indigent parents and children in suits filed
(i)  qualifications appropriate for
representing an indigent parent;
(ii)  qualifications appropriate for
(iii)  successful completion of relevant
continuing legal education programs required by law or the State
Bar of Texas and approved by the council; and
(iv)  testing and certification standards;
(3)  standards for ensuring appropriate appointed
caseloads for counsel appointed to represent indigent individuals;
(4)  standards for determining whether a person accused
of a crime or juvenile offense or named in a suit filed by the
(5)  policies and standards governing the organization
and operation of an assigned counsel program;
(6)  policies and standards governing the organization
and operation of a public defender's office consistent with
recognized national policies and standards;
(7)  policies and standards governing the organization
and operation of an office of child representation or office of
parent representation consistent with recognized national policies
(8)  standards for providing indigent defense services
or family protection services under a contract defender program
consistent with recognized national policies and standards;
(9)  standards governing the reasonable compensation
of counsel appointed to represent indigent individuals;
(10)  standards governing the availability and
reasonable compensation of providers of indigent defense support
services or family protection services for counsel appointed to
represent indigent individuals;
(11)  standards governing the operation of a legal
clinic or program that provides legal services to indigent
individuals and is sponsored by a law school approved by the supreme
(12)  policies and standards governing the appointment
of attorneys to represent children in proceedings under Title 3,
(13)  policies and standards governing the appointment
of attorneys to represent indigent parents and children in
proceedings with the department under Title 5, Family Code;
(14)  policies and standards governing the
organization and operation of a managed assigned counsel program
consistent with nationally recognized policies and standards; and
(15)  other policies and standards for providing
indigent defense services and family protection services as
determined by the commission to be appropriate.
SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission shall revise the
policies and standards developed under Section 79.034(a),
Government Code, as necessary to conform to Section 79.034(a-1),
Government Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.