Bill > SB67

This bill establishes the budget and staffing levels for the Arkansas Public Defender Commission for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The appropriation includes funding for four main areas: State Operations, Trial Public Defender Office, Ombudsman Program, and Commission for Parent Counsel. The total appropriation is approximately $44.4 million, with the majority ($35.6 million) allocated to the Trial Public Defender Office. The bill specifies the maximum number of employees for each program, ranging from a single Ombudsman Program coordinator to multiple staff across different divisions. It authorizes extra help positions (temporary or part-time employees) for various programs, with the Trial Public Defender Office and Commission for Parent Counsel having the most flexibility. The bill includes special provisions allowing for salary adjustments, transfer of funds between line items with proper approval, and exemptions for extra help employees. Notably, it includes a provision that funds cannot be used for cases with retained counsel who have not gone through the Public Defender Commission's certification process, with potential exemptions. The bill also includes an emergency clause to ensure the appropriation can take effect on July 1, 2025, highlighting the critical nature of maintaining continuous funding for public defender services.

Budget and Finance

Joint Budget Committee (J)

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb67&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R