The board of supervisors of any county may designate a county officer to make financial evaluations of defendants and other persons liable for reimbursable costs under the law. A county officer so designated shall be known as the county financial evaluation officer, whose duties shall be to determine, according to the standards set by the board of supervisors and at the direction of the court, the financial ability of parties who have incurred, or will incur, attorney’s fees or other court-related or court-ordered costs, which costs by law must be waived or the services provided free of charge if the party is indigent.