The Florida Senate

29.011  Pilot projects; conflict attorneys.--Pursuant to s. 14, Art. V, and s. 25, Art. XII of the State Constitution, and s. 27.52, and notwithstanding s. 925.037, the Legislature creates pilot projects to reimburse three counties for reasonable and necessary conflict counsel fees, expenses, and costs. The counties designated for the pilot projects must institute cost containment and accountability processes and provide a detailed quarterly report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Article V. The report shall include, but is not limited to:

(1)  The total number of conflict cases.

(2)  The steps that were taken to avoid the conflict, if any.

(3)  The number of each type of case identified with specificity.

(4)  The length of each case.

(5)  The total amount paid to each attorney.

(6)  The total year-to-date payments to conflict attorneys.

(7)  The method of payment, for example, hourly rate, flat fee, contract, or other.

All information must be broken down based on whether the case was given to outside counsel due to an ethical conflict or due to an overextended caseload.

History.--s. 11, ch. 2000-237.