Two joint legislative committees are meeting at the Capitol this morning, the Public Defense Reform Interim Committee, which is meeting at 9:30 in Room WW55; and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, which is meeting at 9:30 in the Lincoln Auditorium. You can listen live here.

The public defense panel will hear an update from Idaho counties on public defense reform, then discuss draft legislation, in a discussion scheduled to run until noon. JLOC will release a new legislative performance audit report on distribution of state general fund money to public health districts; then hear updates or follow-ups on previous reports on state employee compensation and turnover; strengthening contract management; the failed Schoolnet instructional management system; and ISEE.

Even as the public defense panel meets today, 4^th District Judge Samuel Hoagland is scheduled to hear oral arguments this afternoon at 3 p.m. on the state’s motion to dismiss in Tucker vs. Idaho, the ongoing lawsuit against the state challenging the current public defender system as unconstitutional.