ArkansasArkansas funds public defenders and parent counsel for 2026–2027
Starting July 1, 2026, the law provides money for public defender offices and parent counsel, including attorneys for parents who cannot afford a lawyer.
What it does
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the law provides $3,975,580 for state operations, $35,632,416 for trial offices, and $4,780,926 for parent counsel.
The Commission for Parent Counsel may use its reimbursement money to contract with qualified attorneys for parents who cannot afford a lawyer in dependency-neglect cases.
Argument forThe attorney contracts could help parents who cannot afford a lawyer get representation in dependency-neglect cases.
Argument againstThe compensation cap could limit what an attorney earns when combining part-time and extra-help work for the Commission for Parent Counsel.
More detail
The law provides money for Public Defender Commission operations, trial offices, and parent counsel. The funds cover state operations, trial public defender offices, and the Commission for Parent Counsel. The appropriations cover the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Commission for Parent Counsel may use reimbursement money to contract with attorneys. This applies to the Commission for Parent Counsel and its parent-counsel reimbursement appropriation. The attorneys must be qualified to represent parents who cannot afford counsel in dependency-neglect cases. This authority applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 27Notification that SB52 is now Act 81Became Law
- Apr 24DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.To Governor
- Apr 24Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
- Apr 23ORDERED ENROLLED
- Apr 23Returned from the House as passed.
- Apr 23Returned To Senate as Passed.
- Apr 23EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
- Apr 23Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.Passed House
- Apr 23Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.
- Apr 23RULES SUSPENDED
- Apr 22Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.Minor
- Apr 22RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
- Apr 22Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.
- Apr 22EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
- Apr 22Read the third time and passed.Passed Senate
- Apr 21Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do PassMinor
- Apr 15Re-referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEEMinor
- Apr 15REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
- Apr 15Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
- Apr 15Withdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
- Apr 8Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEEMinor
- Apr 1FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticeTaxes & Budget