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New State Public Defender agency asks for reappropriation, supplements and hiring funds amid heavier caseloads
Summary
The recently created Idaho State Public Defender requested supplemental and ongoing appropriations to use a $39 million cash transfer, cover transcript costs after a state Supreme Court ruling, increase contract rates, and staff new institutional offices as counties transition into state coverage.
Christopher Lahoset of the Legislative Services Office briefed the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on the newly created Office of the State Public Defender, its funding sources and multiple enhancement requests.
Lahoset explained the agency was established by statute (Title 19, Chapter 60) and that a key funding mechanism is a one-time transfer directed by statute for $39 million from the tax relief fund into a new State Public Defense Fund (Idaho Code ). He noted the agencywas funded largely by a dedicated state public defense fund and that the state controller was directed to transfer $39 million into that fund.
Lahoset summarized the agencyrequests for fiscal 2025 and 2026, including: a $2.5 million one-time supplemental to fully utilize the $39 million cash transfer, a $390,200 one-time supplemental for transcript costs following the Idaho Supreme Court decision in State v. Blasick…
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