MS HB1587

Appropriates $3,096,489.00 from the State General Fund to the Office of State Public Defender for fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019).

Authorizes 25 permanent full-time positions for the Office of State Public Defender.

Allocates $200,000.00 specifically for Indigent Parental Representation to contract with attorneys representing indigent parents or guardians in abuse, neglect, and termination of parental rights proceedings.

Establishes performance targets for capital defense cases, including 75% of trial cases opened within one year and measures for reversals due to ineffective assistance of counsel.

Requires the agency to maintain accounting and personnel records in the same format and detail as fiscal year 2018 and to report performance measure achievements in the fiscal year 2020 budget request.