Indigent defense task force

AN ACT Relating to reinstating the indigent defense task force; 1
adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and providing an 2
expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 10.101 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) The indigent defense task force created in law through 7
chapter 156, Laws of 1988, and chapter 409, Laws of 1989, is 8
reinstated to study the current system in Washington for providing 9
representation to persons who could not otherwise afford counsel.10
(2) The members of the task force shall consist of:11
(a) One member appointed by the governor; 12
(b) The director of the office of financial management or the 13
director's designee; 14
(c) The director of the office of public defense or the 15
director's designee; 16
(d) One member appointed by the chief justice of the state 17
supreme court; 18
(e) Two members appointed by the Washington state bar 19
association, at least one of whom must currently provide indigent 20
criminal defense representation; 21
S-3442.1
SENATE BILL 5912
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Torres, Trudeau, Dhingra, Dozier, Hasegawa, Nobles,
Riccelli, Saldaña, Valdez, C. Wilson, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 12/17/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Law & Justice.
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(f) Two members appointed by the Washington state association of 1
counties, one from eastern Washington and one from western 2
Washington; 3
(g) One member appointed by the association of Washington cities;4
(h) One member appointed by the Washington association of 5
prosecuting attorneys; 6
(i) Two members appointed by the speaker of the house of 7
representatives from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of 8
representatives; and 9
(j) Two members appointed by the president of the senate from 10
each of the two largest caucuses of the senate. 11
(3) The task force shall review the current systems employed to 12
provide trial representation to indigent persons in cases where right 13
to counsel attaches. By January 1, 2028, the task force shall report 14
its findings to the governor, supreme court, and appropriate 15
committees of the legislature. The report shall: 16
(a) Summarize the current methods of providing indigent services 17
in different regions of the state, their costs, and caseloads;18
(b) Review delays and other impacts caused by current staffing 19
levels for indigent defense; 20
(c) Consider published public defense workload standards and 21
recommendations; 22
(d) Consider workforce recruitment needs in rural and underserved 23
areas of the state; 24
(e) Consider alternative delivery systems which have been 25
proposed for public defense services; and 26
(f) Make recommendations for improvement. 27
(4) Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the 28
office of public defense. Staff support for legislative members shall 29
be provided by the senate committee services and the house of 30
representatives office of program research. 31
(5) The task force shall choose cochairs from among its 32
legislative membership. The director of the office of public defense 33
or the director's designee shall convene the first meeting of the 34
task force. 35
(6) Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for 36
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative 37
members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they 38
are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, 39
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governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for 1
other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.2
(7) The task force may contract with additional persons who have 3
specific technical expertise if the expertise is necessary to carry 4
out the mandates of this section. The task force may enter into such 5
a contract only if an appropriation is specifically provided for this 6
purpose. 7
(8) This section expires June 30, 2029. 8
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