Title
Equal Access Fund | Distribution of Funds to the California Access to Justice Commission (Action Required)
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Summary
The Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness recommends that the Judicial Council approve the allocation of $11.25 million to the California Access to Justice Commission. The funding will support a range of initiatives, including grants to nonprofit civil legal aid providers; support for the infrastructure and innovation needs of legal services addressing civil matters for indigent individuals; assistance for legal aid staff who were eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness as of January 1, 2026, but lost eligibility due to their work with immigrants or marginalized communities; and the administration of a tax-advantaged student loan repayment assistance program.
Recommendation
The Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness recommends that the Judicial Council, effective October 16, 2026, approve a distribution of $11.25 million from the Equal Access Fund to the California Access to Justice Commission for the purposes authorized by the Budget Act of 2026 (Stats. 2026, ch. 21).