COUNTY REPORTING PLAN; COMMISSION REPORTS

(a) The commission shall develop a plan that establishes statewide requirements for counties relating to reporting indigent defense information and family protection services information. The plan must include provisions designed to reduce redundant reporting by counties and provisions that take into consideration the costs to counties of implementing the plan statewide. The commission shall use the information reported by a county to monitor the effectiveness of the county's indigent defense and family protection services policies, standards, and procedures and to ensure compliance by the county with the requirements of state law relating to indigent defense and family protection services. The commission may revise the plan as necessary to improve monitoring of indigent defense and family protection services policies, standards, and procedures in this state. (b) The commission shall annually submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and council and shall publish in written and electronic form a report: (1) containing any information submitted to the commission by a county under Section 79.036; and (2) regarding: (A) the quality of legal representation provided by counsel appointed to represent indigent individuals; (B) current indigent defense practices and family protection services practices in the state as compared to state and national standards; (C) efforts made by the commission to improve indigent defense practices and family protection services practices in the state; (D) recommendations made by the commission for improving indigent defense practices and family protection services practices in the state; and (E) the findings of a report submitted to the commission under Section 79.039. (c) The commission shall annually submit to the Legislative Budget Board and council and shall publish in written and electronic form a detailed report of all expenditures made under this subchapter, including distributions under Section 79.037. (d) The commission may issue other reports relating to indigent defense and family protection services as determined to be appropriate by the commission.