<br><br>31.010 Department for Public Advocacy -- Establishment -- Functions -- Independent <br>agency. <br>There is hereby established as an independent agency of state government, attached for <br>administrative purposes to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Department for Public <br>Advocacy, in order to provide for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of a state <br>sponsored and controlled system for: <br>(1) The representation of indigent persons accused of crimes or mental states which may result <br>in their incarceration or confinement; and <br>(2) The pursuit of legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to insure the protection <br>of the rights of persons with disabilities. For the purposes of this chapter, "persons with <br>disabilities" shall refer to those persons eligible for protection and advocacy services under <br>Public Laws 99-319, 102-569, 103-218, 106-170, and 106-402 as amended and any other <br>federal enabling statute hereafter enacted that defines the eligible client base for protection <br>and advocacy services. <br>Effective: June 26, 2007 <br>History: Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 115, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 2002 <br>Ky. Acts ch. 283, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 338, sec. 1, <br>effective July 13, 1984. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 155, sec. 19, effective June 17, 1978. -<br>- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 177, sec. 1. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 353, sec. 1. <br>Legislative Research Commission Note (6/26/2007). 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, relating to the <br>creation and organization of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, instructs the Reviser of <br>Statutes to correct statutory references to agencies and officers whose names have been <br>changed in that Act. Such a correction has been made in this section. <br><br>