§ 7A-498.6. Director of Indigent Defense Services.
§ 7A‑498.6. Director ofIndigent Defense Services.
(a) The Director ofIndigent Defense Services shall be appointed by the Commission for a term offour years. The salary of the Director shall be set by the General Assembly inthe Current Operations Appropriations Act, after consultation with theCommission. The Director may be removed during this term in the discretion ofthe Commission by a vote of two‑thirds of all of the Commission members.The Director shall be an attorney licensed and eligible to practice in thecourts of this State at the time of appointment and at all times during serviceas the Director.
(b) The Director shall:
(1) Prepare and submitto the Commission a proposed budget for the Office of Indigent DefenseServices, an annual report containing pertinent data on the operations, costs,and needs of the Office, and such other information as the Commission mayrequire;
(2) Assist theCommission in developing rules and standards for the delivery of services underthis Article;
(3) Administer andcoordinate the operations of the Office and supervise compliance with standardsadopted by the Commission;
(4) Subject to policiesand procedures established by the Commission, hire such professional,technical, and support personnel as deemed reasonably necessary for theefficient operation of the Office of Indigent Defense Services;
(5) Keep and maintainproper financial records for use in calculating the costs of the operations ofthe Office of Indigent Defense Services;
(6) Apply for and accepton behalf of the Office of Indigent Defense Services any funds that may becomeavailable from government grants, private gifts, donations, or bequests fromany source;
(7) Coordinate theservices of the Office of Indigent Defense Services with any federal, county,or private programs established to provide assistance to indigent persons incases subject to this Article and consult with professional bodies concerningimproving the administration of indigent services;
(8) Conduct trainingprograms for attorneys and others involved in the legal representation ofpersons subject to this Article;
(8a) Administer theSentencing Services Program established in Article 61 of this Chapter; and
(9) Perform other dutiesas the Commission may assign.
(c) In lieu of merit andother increment raises paid to regular State employees, the Director ofIndigent Defense Services shall receive as longevity pay an amount equal tofour and eight‑tenths percent (4.8%) of the annual salary set forth inthe Current Operations Appropriations Act payable monthly after five years ofservice, nine and six‑tenths percent (9.6%) after 10 years of service,fourteen and four‑tenths percent (14.4%) after 15 years of service,nineteen and two‑tenths percent (19.2%) after 20 years of service, and twenty‑fourpercent (24%) after 25 years of service. "Service" means service asDirector of Indigent Defense Services, a public defender, appellate defender,assistant public or appellate defender, district attorney, assistant districtattorney, justice or judge of the General Court of Justice, or clerk ofsuperior court. (2000‑144,s. 1; 2002‑126, s. 14.7(c); 2008‑107, ss. 26.4(b), (c).)