The following words and terms when used in this subchapter
shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
(1) Appointing Authority. The appointing authority
is the:
(A) Judge or judges who have authority to establish
an indigent defense plan and approve attorneys to represent indigent
defendants in criminal cases under Article 26.04, Code of Criminal
Procedure; and/or
(B) Juvenile board that has authority to establish
an indigent defense plan and approve attorneys to represent indigent
respondents in juvenile cases under §51.102, Family Code.
(2) Contract Defender Program. Contract defender program
means a system under which private attorneys, acting as independent
contractors and compensated with public funds, are engaged to provide
legal representation and services to a group of unspecified indigent
defendants who appear before a particular court or group of courts.
(3) Contracting Authority. The contracting authority
is the county or counties that have the authority to conclude a contract
and to obligate funds for the provision of indigent defense services.
(4) Contractor. The contractor is an attorney, law
firm, professional association, lawyer's association, law school,
bar association, non-profit organization or other entity that can
be bound by contract.
(5) Itemized Fee Voucher. An itemized fee voucher is
any instrument, such as an invoice, that details services provided
by a contractor providing indigent defense services. The itemized
fee voucher may be in paper or electronic form. It shall include at
a minimum all the information necessary for the county auditor or
other designated official to complete the expenditure report required
to be submitted to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission by §79.036,
Government Code.
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