The bill amends existing laws regarding public defense services in Washington State, specifically RCW 10.101.050 and 10.101.060, and introduces a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW. It establishes that the Washington State Office of Public Defense will allocate funds to counties and cities to enhance public defense services. To qualify for these funds, counties and cities must ensure that attorneys providing public defense attend annual training, report expenditures and case statistics, and comply with Washington Supreme Court standards for indigent defense. Additionally, attorneys must document their time and activities on cases, with guidelines to be published by the Washington State Bar Association.

The bill also outlines a phased increase in state funding for public defense services, starting at 10% in fiscal year 2027 and reaching 30% by fiscal year 2031. The Office of Public Defense is tasked with determining the annual costs of public defense services based on reported expenditures and monitoring compliance among counties and cities receiving state funds. If a county or city fails to comply with the established standards, they will be notified and given a period to correct deficiencies; otherwise, their eligibility for funding will be terminated. The bill emphasizes prioritizing funding for counties with significant backlogs in public defense services.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 10.101.050, 10.101.060