Removes municipal authority to charge application fee for representation by municipal public defender.

Summary

The bill eliminates the ability of New Jersey municipalities to impose a fee—up to $200—on people applying for a municipal public defender. It removes the fee barrier so anyone charged with a crime can access counsel without cost, protecting the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. The change applies to all municipalities and the individuals they serve.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

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