Panel advances bill to require local funding for East Baton Rouge public defender office

Representative Marcel presented House Bill 59 to the Criminal Justice Committee on April 15, asking the legislature to place an obligation on East Baton Rouge Parish governing authorities to provide funding to the public defender’s office akin to the way district attorneys are supported.

Kyla Romanak, identified herself as chief public defender for East Baton Rouge Parish, told the panel the bill does not specify a dollar amount but would require local authorities to provide funding similarly to the DA’s statutory framework: “What this bill attempts to do … is simply … say the local government has an obligation to provide funding to the public defender’s office in the same way that it does for the district attorney’s office,” she said.

State Public Defender Remy Starnes and District Attorney Hiller Moore described chronic underfunding and a severe case backlog. Starnes said the state provided approximately $4.6 million last year to East Baton Rouge from the state public defender budget but argued local investment is essential: “The parish is already providing it. This isn’t asking for anything new, but we think it’s important the law affirmatively mandate local investment,” he said. Moore said she supports the intent but acknowledged the bill raises practical questions about mandating local contributions.

Several committee members expressed support for the objective but warned the bill, as written, could be viewed as an unfunded mandate and might invite litigation if local governments are required to maintain funding levels. Representative Villio asked the author to work with mayors, governing authorities and the District Attorneys’ Association before floor consideration. With that commitment, the committee reported HB 59 favorably by voice vote.