Sec. 79.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Assigned counsel program" means a system under which private attorneys, acting as independent contractors and compensated with public funds, are individually appointed to:
(A)  provide legal representation and services to a particular indigent defendant accused of a crime or juvenile offense; or
(B)  serve as an attorney ad litem.
(1-a)  "Attorney ad litem" means an attorney appointed by a court to represent and advocate on behalf of an indigent parent or child in a suit filed by the department against a parent.
(2)  "Board" means the governing board of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(3)  "Commission" means the permanent standing committee of the council known as the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(4)  "Contract defender program" means a system under which private attorneys, acting as independent contractors and compensated with public funds, are engaged to provide legal representation and services to:
(A)  a group of unspecified indigent defendants who appear before a particular court or group of courts; or
(B)  indigent parents or children named in a suit filed by the department against a parent.
(5)  "Council" means the Texas Judicial Council.
(6)  "Crime" means:
(A)  a misdemeanor punishable by confinement; or
(B)  a felony.
(7)  "Defendant" means a person accused of a crime or a juvenile offense.
(7-a)  "Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services.
(8)  "Executive director" means the executive director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(8-a)  "Family protection services" means services provided under this chapter by an attorney, attorney ad litem, licensed investigator, social worker, forensic expert, mental health expert, or other similar expert or specialist to an indigent parent or child in:
(A)  a suit filed by the department against the parent; or
(B)  a department investigation of the parent.
(9)  "Indigent defense support services" means criminal defense services that:
(A)  are provided by licensed investigators, experts, or other similar specialists, including forensic experts and mental health experts; and
(B)  are reasonable and necessary for appointed counsel to provide adequate representation to indigent defendants.
(10)  "Juvenile offense" means conduct committed by a person while younger than 17 years of age that constitutes:
(A)  a misdemeanor punishable by confinement; or
(B)  a felony.
(11)  "Managed assigned counsel program" has the meaning assigned by Article 26.047, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(12)  "Office of capital and forensic writs" means the office of capital and forensic writs established under Subchapter B, Chapter 78.
(12-a)  "Office of child representation" has the meaning assigned by Section 107.254, Family Code.
(12-b)  "Office of parent representation" has the meaning assigned by Section 107.255, Family Code.
(13)  "Public defender's office" has the meaning assigned by Article 26.044(a), Code of Criminal Procedure.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 984 (H.B. 1754), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1215 (S.B. 1743), Sec. 21, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 965 (S.B. 2120), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.