1. (1) The commission shall establish rules and procedures for:

   1. (a) the application by a county for disbursements; and
   2. (b) the screening and approval of the applications for the money from the fund.

2. (2) The office shall:

   1. (a) receive, screen, and approve or disapprove the application of a county for disbursements from the fund;
   2. (b) calculate the amount of the annual contribution to be made to the fund by each participating county;
   3. (c) prescribe forms for the application for money from the fund;
   4. (d) oversee and approve the disbursement of money from the fund as described in Section 75E-10-402; and
   5. (e) negotiate, enter into, and administer contracts with legal counsel, qualified under and meeting the standards consistent with this chapter, to provide indigent defense services to an indigent individual prosecuted in a participating county for an offense involving aggravated murder.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 291, 2026 General Session