STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS28544 / H0192
This proposed legislation would remove public defense from being county responsibility and place the
obligation with the state. The Public Defense Commission would become a state Public Defense Board housed
under the current State Appellant Public Defender’s Office. Public defense would be provided through the
creation of judicial district level public defense districts, with each county in each judicial district receiving
a seat on an oversight board, and each oversite board receiving one seat on the state board. The seven public
defense districts would each have a chief public defender who would be under the supervision of the state
chief public defender.
FISCAL NOTE
The legislation aims to mitigate the shift from county to state expense by reducing the sales tax distribution
to counties by an amount substantially equal to the amount spent collectively by counties on public defense
from county revenue sources. In 2020, a total of $39,200,000 was spent on public defense statewide, including
$11,300,000 already appropriated from the general fund and $27,900,000 from county revenue sources. The
legislation would reduce the percentage of the sales tax distribution being sent to counties by an amount equal
to the $27,900,000 based on 2020 revenues. The result is should be substantially break-even for both county
and state budgets.
Contact:
Representative Greg Chaney
(208) 332-1000
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN INTRODUCED: 02/16/2021, 9:11 AM


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 19-849, 19-850, 19-851, 19-859, 19-860, 19-861, 19-862, 19-862A, 19-863, 19-863A, 19-864, 19-867, 19-868, 19-869, 19-870, 19-871, 19-872, 63-3638, 20-514, 67-2601, 67-5303, 74-105