SB44 Summary

• Appropriates $2,862,447 for Arkansas Public Defender Commission State Operations, including 19 regular employees with maximum annual salary for Executive Director set at $108,967

• Appropriates $23,024,176 for Trial Public Defender Office, including 252 regular employees, plus funds for professional fees ($750,000), operating expenses ($699,756), and county public defender support ($300,000)

• Appropriates $89,900 for Ombudsman Program with 1 employee at grade C121

• Authorizes up to 3 temporary or part-time "Extra Help" employees for each division payable at rates not exceeding the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act

• Establishes provisions for court fee collection deposits, bail bond fee distribution ($3.00 per bond to counties), transfer authority for insufficient appropriations, and restrictions on funding retained counsel who lack Public Defender Commission certification; effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018