By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A bill that would ease the workload of public defenders in Missouri has been approved by a State Senate committee.
The legislation would place limits on the number of cases a public defender can take at one time.
It would also secure funds for the system, ensuring they won't be diverted to other state needs. And the state would pick up parking costs for all public defender employees.
Still, the bill's sponsor, State Senator Jack Goodman (R, Mount Vernon), says it's not enough.
"What we really need to do to address the problems within the public defender system is increase the appropriations...we're in a budget year this year where the expectations for that are not very high," Goodman said.
Goodman also says drawing down federal dollars to supplement the State Public Defender's office doesn't appear to be a viable option right now.
Governor Nixon's proposed budget allots $38 million for the Public Defender's office. That's $1 million more than what's currently being spent, but $13 million less than what judiciary officials had wanted.