In any court where a financial evaluation officer is available, prior to the furnishing of counsel or legal assistance by the court, the court shall give notice to the defendant that the court, after a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code, shall make a determination of the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the cost of counsel. The court shall give the defendant notice of his or her procedural rights under Section 27755 of the Government Code. The court shall also give notice that, if the court determines that the defendant has the financial ability, the court shall order him or her to pay all or a part of such cost in a manner which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant’s financial ability. The notice shall inform the defendant that the order shall have the same force and effect as a judgment in a civil action and shall be subject to enforcement against the property of the defendant in the same manner as any other money judgment. The notice shall also inform the defendant that if he or she is ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer and fails to so appear, an order for the full cost of the legal assistance provided shall be entered against him or her. The provisions of this section shall apply to all proceedings, including contempt proceedings, in which the party is represented by a public defender or appointed counsel.
(Added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1485, Sec. 2.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018