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Public defender requests phased attorney hires; committee questions contracted-attorney rates
Summary
The Office of Public Defender requested a multi-year plan to add attorneys; legislators asked what contract attorneys are paid now and how the requested rate increase would affect costs.
Section D members pressed Office of Public Defender (OPD) requests for additional attorneys and for a higher contracted-attorney rate.
Committee staff said DP904 reflects the first two years of a five-year hiring plan to address an estimated attorney shortfall; the plan adds eight attorney FTE in year 1 and eight more in year 2 (a staged 5‑year plan to reach the total shortfall the office estimates). Staff said the 2023 legislature provided a smaller number of requested positions (eight were funded then) and that the office hired interim modified positions during the interim.
Members also discussed a proposed rate increase for contracted attorneys (DP704), which would amend the statutory/administrative rate from $71 to $90. Committee members asked what contractors are currently paid in practice (actual paid amounts versus statutory rates). Staff agreed to get current, real-world payment information and to have OPD director (in person or in writing) explain the link between DP504 (a supplemental/OTO request) and DP704 (the rate-change request).
No final vote on OPD packages occurred at this meeting; staff said the OPD director expected to be available for further committee questions the next day.
