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State Legislation Aims To Provide Legal Help For The Poor

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers have voted to gradually pay for public defenders statewide to ensure the poor have lawyers at arraignments and fill other gaps in their constitutionally required legal counsel.

The bill heading to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk follows his administration's settlement two years ago with the New York Civil Liberties Union. The group sued seven years earlier alleging New York systematically provided inadequate staff and money.

New York City and 57 counties currently fund defenders.

The settlement requires the state fund staff or contract defenders in Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Suffolk and Washington counties, which were named in the suit.

The legislation would require the state reimburse the rest in 2023, starting with 25 percent payment next year.

It cost almost $400 million last year. Required improvements would cost more.

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