Established pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.

The committee shall consist of five members, three Republicans and two Democrats, and will be responsible for reviewing the current effectiveness of the Missouri State Public Defender System. The duties of the committee shall be:

1) To study the causes and implications of the significant increase in caseloads and to develop proposals to reduce the number of caseloads.

2) To review the standards and eligibility requirements for those to whom a public defender might be assigned.

3) To study attorney turnover rates, staffing and personnel issues, and compensation practices.

4) To evaluate the Missouri State Public Defender System's organizational practices including, but not limited to: overhead, office location, technology, and distribution of resources.

The committee shall be staffed by counsel from Senate Research and may hold public hearings at locations to be determined by the chairman. Reasonable, actual and necessary expenses of the committee shall be reimbursed by the Missouri Senate.

The committee shall issue a report and make recommendations, as deemed appropriate by a majority of the members of the committee, to the general assembly for legislative action no later than January 26, 2007.

Report of the Committee