Office of public defender; increasing certain population requirements. Effective date.

SB 606 lowers the population threshold for counties to establish a public defender office from 400,000 to over 300,000 residents, based on the latest federal census. This change requires more counties (specifically those with populations between 300,000 and 400,000, plus those above 400,000) to create and fund public defender offices, directly affecting county governments and indigent defendants in those areas. The bill also mandates training for public defenders on behavioral health and substance abuse issues, and clarifies that public defenders are considered state employees for liability under the Governmental Tort Claims Act. The changes take effect November 1, 2025.