(1) Any defending attorney operating under the provisions of this chapter is entitl ed to use the same state facilities for the evaluation of evidence as are available to the attorney representing the Commonwealth. If he or she considers their use impractical, the court of competent jurisdiction in which the case is pending may authorize the use of private facilities to be paid for on court order from the special account of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. (2) The defending attorney may request to be heard ex parte and on the record with regard to using private facilities under subs ection (1) of this section. If the defending attorney so requests, the court shall conduct the hearing ex parte and on the record. (3) Any direct expense, including the cost of a transcript or bystander's bill of exceptions or other substitute for a transc ript that is necessarily incurred in representing a needy person under this chapter, are charges against the county, urban-county government, charter county government, unified local government, or consolidated local government on behalf of which the service is performed and shall be paid from the special account established in subsection (4) of this section and in accordance with procedures provided in subsection (5) of this section. However, a charge under this subsection shall not exceed the established rate charged by the Commonwealth and its agencies. (4) The consolidated local government, charter county government, unified local government, fiscal court of each county, or legislative body of an urban -county government shall annually appropriate twelve and a half cents ($0.125) per capita of the population of the county, as determined by the Council of Local Governments' most recent population statistics, to a special account to be administered by the Finance and Administration Cabinet to pay court order s entered against counties pursuant to subsection (1) or (3) of this section. The funds in this account shall not lapse and shall remain in the special account. (5) The Finance and Administration Cabinet shall pay all court orders entered pursuant to subsection (1) or (3) of this section from the special account until the funds in the account are depleted. If in any given year the special account, including any funds from prior years, is depleted and court orders entered against counties pursuant to subsection (1) or (3) of this section for that year or any prior year remain unpaid, the Finance and Administration Cabinet shall pay those orders from the Treasury in the same manner in which judgments against the Commonwealth and its agencies are paid. (6) Expenses incurred in the representation of needy persons confined in a state correctional institution shall be paid from the special account established in subsection (4) of this section and in accordance with the procedures provided in subsection (5) of this section. (7) Only court orders entered after July 15, 1994, shall be payable from the special account administered by the Finance and Administration Cabinet or from the Treasury as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
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