Direct the director of the public defender's office to create units for family defense and children's representation

The director of the Office of the State Public Defender is now explicitly required to limit the use of contract attorneys to the extent ethically and practically possible.

Standards for attorney training in abuse and neglect cases were updated to include specific competencies in child development, trauma dynamics, and developmentally appropriate communication methods.

Practice standards for representing children now explicitly require maintaining frequent contact, including at least one in-person meeting every three months.

The director must collaborate with the Department of Public Health and Human Services to leverage and maximize federal resources under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

Requires the public defender office to limit reliance on contract attorneys to the extent ethically and practically possible.

Requires the establishment of no more than two organizational trial units for parents/guardians and one unit for children in abuse and neglect cases, each with a managing attorney.

Establishes specific training requirements for attorneys representing children, including communication methods, trauma dynamics, and practice standards.

Updated the statutory language to include new duties and standards for the director and public defender divisions.

Mandates collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Human Services to leverage Title IV-E federal resources.

Added a mandate for the director to collaborate with the Department of Public Health and Human Services to leverage federal Title IV-E resources.

Required the establishment of no more than two organizational TRIAL units specifically to provide counsel to parents, guardians, and legal custodians.

Required the establishment of an organizational TRIAL unit specifically to provide counsel to children in abuse and neglect cases.

Added specific training requirements for attorneys representing children, including methods for communicating with children, understanding child development, and handling trauma and grief.

Added specific practice standards for child representation, such as ensuring the child understands the role of counsel and maintaining frequent contact with the child.

The bill number was changed from SB 151 to SB0151.2, and the header was updated to reflect the 2025 legislative session.

Minor formatting and spacing adjustments were made throughout the text, including the removal of extra line breaks and the addition of specific statutory code references to the director's duties.

Bill number changed from LC 0466 to SB 151.1, and the sponsor list was updated.

Added a duty for the conflict defender administrator to communicate and collaborate with all other parties in the case in accordance with professional conduct rules.