Removes municipal authority to charge application fee for representation by municipal public defender.

This bill eliminates the ability of New Jersey municipalities to charge application fees for public defender services. Currently, towns may impose fees up to $200 when people apply for a public defender, though courts can waive fees deemed excessive. The bill repeals the law permitting these fees (N.J.S.A. 2B:24-17), removing a potential financial barrier to accessing legal representation. It directly affects low-income individuals facing criminal charges who rely on public defender services.