Candace Brower, regional conflict counsel for Florida’s First Region, told the Senate appropriations subcommittee that the regional conflict councils (RCCs) seek pay and retirement changes and additional staff tied to rising courtroom capacity needs.

Brower said the five regional councils have saved the state substantial sums: JAC records show about $426 million in historical savings, which Brower adjusted for inflation to about $675 million. The councils provide trial-level defense and dependency representation that is sometimes outside the scope of elected public defenders.

RCC asks include raising their minimum pay from the GAA-listed $47,000 to a practical minimum closer to current market levels (the councils said they generally pay about $65,000), expanding eligibility for senior-management retirement status to experienced regional-council attorneys, and funding to staff additional courtrooms if judgeships create new criminal dockets.

Brower told senators that granting senior-management retirement status to eligible regional-council attorneys would have a relatively modest statewide fiscal impact — “close to a million dollars” — while aiding retention of experienced staff. She also said regional councils do not pay overtime and that attorneys work a minimum 40-hour week and often longer.

The councils’ presentation emphasized dependency work and family reunification outcomes and said the councils are now handling a larger share of civil matters in some regions.

No appropriation votes were held at the meeting.