Eligibility of minors for public defender services. Powers of investigation

Except in cases in which counsel has been appointed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-296, whenever a person requesting services pursuant to this chapter is under the age of eighteen years, eligibility for services shall be measured in terms of the financial circumstances of such person and of his parents, guardians, or those legally responsible for the support of such person. The commission shall be entitled to recover the reasonable cost of legal services, as determined in accordance with the schedule of reasonable charges for public defender services provided by the commission, from the parents, guardians, trustees or those legally responsible for the support of such person and the provisions of section 51-298 shall apply to such persons. In so doing, it shall have the authority to require such parents, guardians or other such persons as well as those persons holding property in trust or otherwise for such minor or unemancipated person to execute and deliver to the commission or its employees any written requests or authorizations required under applicable law or otherwise to provide the Chief Public Defender or those serving under him with access to such records of public or private sources, otherwise confidential, or any other information which may be relevant to the question of eligibility or liability to the commission under this chapter.