§ 16-87-302. Funding of public defenders

(a) The Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall be responsible for the payment of the following:

1. (1) The salaries of public defenders;

2. (2) The salaries of secretaries and other support staff of the public defender’s office;

3. (3) The payment of the costs of certain expenses, as authorized by § 16-87-212.

(b) Each county or counties within a judicial district shall be responsible for the payment of the following:

1. (1)

   1. (A) The cost of facilities, equipment, supplies, and other office expenses necessary to the effective and efficient operation of the public defender’s office.

   2. (B) Funding for these expenditures may be from:

      1. (i) A county administration of justice fund;

      2. (ii) A county’s general fund;

      3. (iii) A county’s public defender fund;

      4. (iv) A county’s indigent defense fund;

      5. (v) A county’s public defender investigator fund; or

      6. (vi) Any other fund authorized by law for that purpose.

   3. (C) These expenditures shall comply with an itemized, line-item budget appropriated by the quorum court; and

2. (2) The compensation of additional personnel within the office of the public defender, when approved in advance by the quorum court.