Title
Title
Equal Access Fund: Distribution of Funds for Partnership Grants and IOLTA-Formula Grants (Action Required)
body
Summary
Summary
As stated in its report on the Equal Access Fund: Distribution of Funding for IOLTA-Formula Grants and Partnership Grants Under the Budget Act of 2015, the State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission notes that the Budget Act of 2015 includes an estimated $14,192,000 in the Equal Access Fund for distribution to legal services providers and support centers. Equal Access funds are distributed primarily in two parts: Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA)-Formula Grants and Partnership Grants (with a small amount also distributed for administration). The State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission requests approval of the distribution of $12,773,000 in IOLTA-Formula Grants for fiscal year 2015-2016, according to the statutory formula in the state Budget Act. It further requests that the Judicial Council approve distribution of $1,419,000 in partnership grants for 2016 and approve the commission’s findings that the proposed budget for each individual grant complies with statutory and other relevant guidelines.
body
Recommendation
Recommendation
The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission recommends that the Judicial Council approve the distribution of $12,773,000 in IOLTA-Formula Grants for 2015-2016 according to the terms of the state Budget Act and approve the commission’s determination that the proposed budget of each individual grant complies with statutory and other guidelines. The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission recommends that the Judicial Council approve the distribution of $1,419,000 in Equal Access Fund Partnership Grants for distribution to the following legal services agencies for programs conducted jointly with courts to provide legal assistance to self-represented litigants (see list in report).body