Amend HB 1318 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  (a) Effective September 1, 2014, Article 26.04(j), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(j)  An attorney appointed under this article shall:

(1)  make every reasonable effort to contact the defendant not later than the end of the first working day after the date on which the attorney is appointed and to interview the defendant as soon as practicable after the attorney is appointed;

(2)  represent the defendant until charges are dismissed, the defendant is acquitted, appeals are exhausted, or the attorney is permitted or ordered by the court to withdraw as counsel for the defendant after a finding of good cause is entered on the record; [and]

(3)  with respect to a defendant not represented by other counsel, before withdrawing as counsel for the defendant after a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty:

(A)  advise the defendant of the defendant's right to file a motion for new trial and a notice of appeal;

(B)  if the defendant wishes to pursue either or both remedies described by Paragraph (A), assist the defendant in requesting the prompt appointment of replacement counsel; and

(C)  if replacement counsel is not appointed promptly and the defendant wishes to pursue an appeal, file a timely notice of appeal; and

(4)  not later than October 15 of each year and on a form prescribed by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, submit to the county information, for the preceding fiscal year, that describes the percentage of the attorney's practice time that was dedicated to work based on appointments accepted in the county under this article and Title 3, Family Code.

(b)  The change in law made by this section to Article 26.04(j), Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after September 1, 2014. A criminal proceeding that commences before September 1, 2014, is governed by the law in effect when the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION ____.  Effective September 1, 2013, Section 79.036(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a)  Not [In each county, not] later than November 1 of each odd-numbered year and in the form and manner prescribed by the commission, each county [the following information] shall prepare [be prepared] and provide [provided] to the commission:

(1)  a copy of all formal and informal rules and forms that describe the procedures used in the county to provide indigent defendants with counsel in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure, including the schedule of fees required under Article 26.05 of that code;

(5) [(2)]  any revisions to rules, [or] forms, plans, proposals, or contracts previously submitted under this section; or

(6) [(3)]  verification that rules, [and] forms, plans, proposals, or contracts previously submitted under this section still remain in effect.

SECTION ____.  Effective September 1, 2014, Section 79.036, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

SECTION ____.  (a)  This section takes effect September 1, 2013.

(b)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission shall conduct and publish a study for the purpose of determining guidelines for establishing a maximum allowable caseload for a criminal defense attorney that, when the attorney's total caseload, including appointments made under Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, appointments made under Title 3, Family Code, and other work, is considered, allows the attorney to give each indigent defendant the time and effort necessary to ensure effective representation. The study must be based on relevant policies, performance guidelines, and best practices.

(c)  In conducting the study under Subsection (b) of this section, the commission shall consult with criminal defense attorneys, criminal defense attorney associations, the judiciary, and any other organization engaged in the development of criminal indigent defense policy that the commission considers appropriate.