The State v. Blake decision voided all previous convictions of simple drug possession. Individuals incarcerated or serving in DOC community custody must be resentenced because of the decision's impact on criminal history scoring. Funding is provided in fiscal year 2025 to continue public defense services and coordination in response to this decision. Namely, the agency will coordinate with statewide partners, ensure counties are sufficiently resourced for ongoing resentencing defense, protect eligible individuals’ right to counsel, and notify community members of potential relief. (Judicial Stabilization Trust Acct - State)

This item funds the vendor rate adjustment for the newly authorized not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) attorney contracts in fiscal year 2025. This was previously approved by the Legislature for other client services contracts. (General Fund - State)

Funds are provided to address the shortage of public defense attorneys, particularly in rural counties, by coordinating statewide recruitment efforts. The agency will engage with students at universities and law schools, provide grants and technical assistance to establish legal internship programs, and deliver training to counties and cities struggling with public defense recruitment and retention. (General Fund - State)

This item funds a contract with an independent, subject-matter expert organization to conduct a statewide evaluation of county and city public defense services. This evaluation will inform the agency and the Legislature on the most effective methods to support, monitor, and resource local public defense services and ensure constitutionally sufficient representation of indigent individuals. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided to develop and coordinate professional training resources for the Parents Representation Program staff and client services contractors. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided to address emergency safety issues and other urgent needs that can arise for indigent clients served by the Parents Representation Program. Examples include securing short-term safety for parent clients experiencing domestic violence, and covering emergency moving services, utility bills, transportation, and food assistance. Failure to address these needs can adversely impact a client’s dependency case and their ability to successfully reunify with their children. (General Fund - State)

One-time funding is provided for relocation costs in support of the relocation project led by the Office of Financial Management Facilities Oversight and Planning team. Funded items include tenant improvements, technology infrastructure, new office furniture, and moving expenses. (Judicial Stabilization Trust Acct - State)

Funds are provided to cover one-half of the cost of a lead social work contract to be shared equally between the sex offender civil commitment and not guilty by reason of insanity programs. The lead contractor will develop a strategic social service plan and performance standards, provide ongoing specialized training for other contractors, and manage the case assignment process for social work services in both programs. This item funds the sex offender civil committment share of the contract; the not guilty by reason of insanity share will be paid from existing resources. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided to reclassify program and administrative assistants to a salary that reflects the work performed and experience required for these positions, in order to address associated recruitment issues. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided for the Office of Public Defense to administer grants to counties for public defense services as authorized by Chapter 10.101 RCW. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided to increase the retiree health insurance subsidy, adjusting the cap from $183 to $193 per month and raising the base subsidy percentage from 50 percent to 60 percent. The insurance funding rates are set at $1,145 per month for fiscal year 2024 and $1,158 per month for fiscal year 2025. (General Fund - State)

Funding is provided for contribution rate impacts associated with proposed legislation that ensures the continuation of benefit payments through the end of the month in which a retiree or beneficiary dies. (General Fund - State)

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Consolidated Technology Services (CTS) for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise and small agency IT services, enterprise architecture and data management, Microsoft 365 licenses, and other items. (General Fund - State)

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services. See Chapter 11 of the 2023-25 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)