2B:24-11 Eligibility of defendant under 18 years of age
11. Whenever a person entitled to representation by a municipal public defender pursuant to this act, is under the age of 18 years, the eligibility for services shall be determined on the basis of the financial circumstances of the individual and the financial circumstances of the individual's parents or legal guardians. The municipality shall be entitled to recover the cost of legal services from the parents or legal guardians as provided in section 16 of this act and the municipal court shall have authority to require parents or legal guardians to execute and deliver the written requests or authorization required under applicable law in order to provide the court with access to records of public or private sources, otherwise confidential, as may be of aid to it in evaluating eligibility.
L.1997,c.256,s.11.
2B:24-12 Reimbursement to municipality
12. If the defendant has or reasonably expects to have means to meet some part, though not all, of the cost of the services rendered, the defendant shall be required to reimburse the municipality, either by a single payment or in installments in such amounts as he can reasonably be expected to pay; but no default or failure in making payment shall affect or reduce the rendering of services.
L.1997,c.256,s.12.
2B:24-13 Lien on property of defendant
13. a. A municipality shall have a lien on any property to which the defendant shall have or acquire an interest for an amount equal to the reasonable value of the services rendered to a defendant pursuant to this act as calculated at the same rate as the Office of the Public Defender bills clients at that time.
b. To effectuate such a lien for the municipality, the municipal attorney shall file a notice setting forth services rendered to the defendant and the reasonable value thereof with the Clerk of the Superior Court. The filing of the notice with the Clerk of the Superior Court shall constitute a lien on property for a period of 10 years from the date of filing, unless discharged sooner, and, except for such time limitations, shall have the force and effect of a judgment. Within 10 days of the filing of the notice, the municipal attorney shall send by certified mail, or serve personally, a copy of the notice with a statement of the date of the filing to or upon the defendant at the defendant's last known address. If the municipal attorney shall fail to give notice, the lien is void.
L.1997,c.256,s.13.
