ArkansasSB672025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Arkansas funds legal help for parents

For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the Commission for Parent Counsel gets about $4.78 million from the State Central Services Fund. This includes about $3.63 million for parent counsel reimbursements, not a set payment to parents. The commission can use that money for full-time or part-time contracts with qualified lawyers representing parents who cannot afford counsel. These contracts cover dependency-neglect cases involving child abuse or neglect. The commission can employ up to 7 regular workers and 14 temporary or part-time Extra Help workers. Extra Help pay cannot exceed the rate for the worker’s job classification.

Arkansas funds public defense offices

For July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the law provides State Central Services Fund money for public defense. State Operations gets about $3.97 million, with up to 22 regular workers and 3 temporary or part-time workers. The Trial Public Defender Office gets about $35.60 million, with up to 316 regular workers and 3 temporary or part-time workers. Its budget includes $770,000 for commission programs and $300,000 for county public defender payments. The Ombudsman Program gets $80,491 for staff costs and can employ one regular worker. Temporary or part-time workers, called Extra Help, cannot earn above their job classification’s pay rate. Spending must follow state purchasing, accounting, and budget-control rules.

Legal service budgets gain transfer flexibility

From July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the director can shift Parent Counsel budget amounts to meet client needs. Transfers cannot include Personal Services Matching, the budget line for employer payroll-related costs. They require Chief Fiscal Officer approval and prior review by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. The Public Defender Commission can also shift commission program funding to the Bail Bond–County Public Defender budget line. That transfer requires a finding that county payment funding is insufficient and approval by the Chief Fiscal Officer. These transfers move existing budget authority; they do not add funding.

Certification limits funding for hired lawyers

From July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the commission cannot fund case expenses involving certain hired lawyers. The restriction applies when a defendant’s lawyer has not completed the commission’s attorney certification and designation process. The commission can grant an exception, but it must explain its reasons in writing. This limits agency spending; it does not itself require defendants to pay.

Defender workers get capped pay flexibility

From July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, covered public defender and attorney jobs can pay up to their grade maximum. The Public Defender Commission sets salaries, and the Office of Personnel Management must approve changes; raises are not guaranteed. That office must report approved changes to the Legislative Council or, during a legislative session, the Joint Budget Committee. Authorized Extra Help positions have a 1,800-hour limit, and pay cannot exceed the job classification’s rate. Parent Counsel has an exemption from usual hour limits and allows part-time employees to also work Extra Help jobs. Their combined pay cannot exceed the GS11 grade maximum, while Extra Help attorneys can hold other jobs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Joint Budget Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 132 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

House Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:00:26 PM

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 2:31:11 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Notification that SB67 is now Act 1016
4/23/2025Senate
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/16/2025Senate
Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/16/2025Senate
ORDERED ENROLLED
4/16/2025Senate
Returned from the House as passed.
4/16/2025Senate
ORDERED ENROLLED
4/16/2025Senate
Returned To Senate as Passed.
4/16/2025House
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/16/2025House
Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/16/2025House
Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
4/16/2025House
RULES SUSPENDED
4/16/2025House
Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.
4/15/2025House
RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/15/2025House
Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/15/2025Senate
EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
4/15/2025Senate
Read the third time and passed.
4/15/2025Senate
REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/14/2025Senate
Amendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/14/2025Senate
Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/14/2025Senate
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 2
4/10/2025Senate
Re-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
4/9/2025Senate
REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/9/2025Senate
Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/9/2025Senate
Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/9/2025Senate
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
4/8/2025Senate

Bill Text

SB67 - Introduced
1/15/2025
PDF
Act Version
PDF

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