This bill amends the law regarding funding for public defenders in Arkansas by placing the responsibility of covering the annual attorney's license fee for full-time public defenders on the counties. Specifically, it modifies Arkansas Code 16-87-302(b)(1)(A) to include the annual attorney's license fee as part of the expenses that counties must pay for the effective operation of public defender offices.

The new legal language inserted into the current law specifies that the costs covered by counties will now explicitly include the annual attorney's license fee for each full-time public defender, thereby ensuring that these essential expenses are accounted for in the funding provided to public defenders. This change aims to enhance the financial support for public defenders, ultimately improving the legal representation available to individuals in need.

Statutes affected:
SB 409: 16-87-302(b)