ID S1158

Appropriates $11,498,000 to the Public Defense Commission for fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020), distributed as: Personnel Costs $649,800, Operating Expenditures $257,400, Capital Outlay $5,100, and Trustee and Benefit Payments $10,585,700.

Authorizes the Public Defense Commission to maintain no more than 7.00 full-time equivalent positions during the fiscal year, unless specifically authorized by the Governor with prompt notification to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Reappropriates up to $423,100 in unexpended balances from fiscal year 2019 for extraordinary litigation costs to be used during fiscal year 2020.

Limits trustee and benefit payment expenditures to: $10,012,600 maximum for county financial assistance, $150,000 maximum to incentivize joint public defender offices, and $846,200 maximum for extraordinary litigation costs, with any remaining amounts reverting to the General Fund.

Prohibits the Public Defense Commission from transferring or encumbering trustee and benefit payment amounts appropriated or reappropriated under the act.