File #: BC 17-092    Name: Public Defender's Office Reorganization
Type: Budget Committee Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 6/14/2017 In control: Budget Committee
On agenda: 6/28/2017 Final action:
Title: Public Defender's report on the status of its reorganization plan and Human Resources' recommended new classifications.
Title
Public Defender's report on the status of its reorganization plan and Human Resources' recommended new classifications.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee:
a) receive an update on the Public Defender's proposed reorganization plan;
b) recommend approval of new classifications of Chief Deputy Public Defender and Chief Public Defender Investigator;
c) recommend approval of adding allocations of 4.0 FTE Chief Deputy Public Defenders and 1.0 FTE Chief Public Defender Investigator.

SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Human Resources Department (HR) initiated the study of the Public Defender's reorganization plan in February of 2017. HR completed the study and recommendations include new classifications of Chief Deputy Public Defender (CDPD), 4.0 FTE, and Chief Public Defender Investigator (CPDI), 1.0 FTE. The CDPDs will report to the Assistant Public Defender, supervise the activities of designated defense units, and handle more difficult and complex criminal cases; and, the CPDI will also report to the Assistant Public Defender and manage the investigative unit of the Office.

These new classifications will be filled by a promotional competitive process within the Public Defender's Office. The positions that fill these new classifications will be deleted resulting in no change in the Department's FTE count. The Human Resources study determined the FY 2017-18 monthly salary at Step 7 of $15,471 for the Chief Deputy Public Defender and $13,279 for the Chief Public Defender Investigator.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Human Resources have recommended the new classifications. The CAO Budget office has reviewed this report.

FINANCING:
It is the intent of the Public Defender's Office to absorb an estimated cost of this reorganization in the amount of $85,134 for the salary increases from promotions of existing staff. If the Public Defender's Office is unable to absorb these costs, it is anticipated the Public Defender will request b...

Click here for full text