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New State Public Defender seeks $39 million fund authority, supplements to cover shortfall and county onboarding
Summary
The newly created State Public Defender office told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it needs supplemental and ongoing appropriations, authority to spend a $39 million transfer from the tax relief fund, and new staff to onboard counties into the state system.
The State Public Defender, a new state agency created under Title 19, Chapter 60, Section 3 of Idaho Code, requested supplemental and ongoing appropriations at a budget hearing before the Idaho Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. Christopher Lahoset of the Legislative Services Office summarized the agency's budget components; Eric Frederickson, the State Public Defender, and staff answered questions about transition issues, costs and operational scope.
Lahoset told the committee the agency’s base staffing authorization is 29 vacant positions and about $37.7 million in personnel budget; the office’s total current fiscal‑year appropriation after enacted enhancements is about $52.0 million. A central funding mechanism is the newly established state public defense fund, created in Idaho Code section 57‑8207; the statute directed a $39 million transfer…
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