AR SB86

Appropriates $2,607,407 for Arkansas Public Defender Commission State Operations, including $1,133,319 for regular salaries of 18 employees and funds for extra help, personal services matching, and operating expenses.

Appropriates $21,008,694 for Trial Public Defender Office, including $14,298,542 for regular salaries of 225 employees, plus funds for extra help, personal services matching, operating expenses, and $770,000 for commission programs and $300,000 for bail bond county public defender program.

Appropriates $89,840 for Ombudsman Program, including $69,635 for one regular employee and $20,205 for personal services matching.

Establishes special provisions for fee collection and distribution from courts and bail bond companies, requiring three dollars ($3.00) per bail bond fee be transferred to counties based on a distribution formula (75% equally to all 75 counties, 25% per capita).

Restricts use of appropriated funds to cases where retained counsel have completed Public Defender Commission's certification procedure, though the Commission may approve exemptions; becomes effective July 1, 2013.