(1) Except for attorneys appointed pursuant to KRS 620.100, 625.041, 625.080, and 31.120, no attorney employed by the Department of Public Advocacy shall accept any fees for the representation of any needy person as defined in this chapter from that person or anyone for his or her benefit and the fees for representation of that person shall be limited to the fees provided in this chapter. "Fees" shall include cash, property, or other pecuniary benefits of any kind.
(2) Any attorney employed by the Department of Public Advocacy who receives or attempts to collect a fee from a needy person as prohibited by subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a Class D felony.