The board of county commissioners in all counties of this state having a population of twenty-four thousand, seven hundred twenty-seven (24,727) and not exceeding sixty thousand (60,000), according to the 1960 or any succeeding Federal Decennial Census, and which have a total gross assessed valuation for the year 1960 of Forty-seven Million, Three Hundred Fifty-seven Thousand, Four Hundred Sixty-three Dollars ($47,357,463.00) or more, may create the office of public defender in such county for the purpose of appearing in the courts of this state in behalf of any defendant in a criminal action when such defendant has been determined by a judge of a court of record in such county to be without adequate funds or resources to employ legal counsel. This act shall not apply to those counties in which the office of public defender is created by the provisions of House Bill No. 776 of the Twenty-eighth Legislature or any other act.

Laws 1961, SB 157, p. 226, § 1, emerg. eff. June 30, 1961.