Appropriates $5,804,800 to the Public Defense Commission for fiscal year 2019; limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions to 6.00; provides legislative intent regarding the allocation of trustee and benefit payments in fiscal years 2018 and 2019; and provides legislative intent regarding encumbrances in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

This is the FY 2019 original appropriation bill for the Public Defense Commission. It appropriates $5,804,800 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 6.00. For benefit costs, the bill removes $1,450 per eligible FTP to bring the annual employer contribution for health insurance down to $11,650 by including a two-month employee and employer premium holiday, adds a 6.8% increase for life insurance, and adjusts funding for workers' compensation in amounts that vary by agency. For statewide cost allocation, $29,800 is removed, as Attorney General fees will decrease by $30,300, risk management costs will decrease by $200, and State Controller fees will increase by $700. The bill also provides funding for a 3% ongoing merit-based salary increase for permanent employees, to be distributed at the discretion of the agency head. The bill funds one line item, which provides $1,000 for IT and telecommunications. The bill also expresses legislative intent for FY 2018 and FY 2019 that clarifies how the agency is to use, transfer, and encumber its appropriation for trustee and benefit payments.