Title
Title
Equal Access Fund: Distribution of Funds for Partnership Grants and IOLTA-Formula Grants (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar reports in Equal Access Fund: Distribution of Funding for IOLTA-Formula Grants and Partnership Grants under the Budget Act of 2017 that the Budget Act of 2017 includes an estimated $25,599,900 in the Equal Access Fund for distribution to legal services providers and support centers. Equal Access Fund monies are distributed primarily in two parts: IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts)-formula grants and partnership grants (with a small amount also distributed for administration). The commission requests Judicial Council approval to distribute $23,152,904 in IOLTA-formula grants for fiscal year 2017-2018, according to the statutory formula in the state Budget Act, and $2,856,479 in partnership grants for 2018. It further requests approval of the commission’s findings that the proposed budget for each individual grant complies with statutory and other relevant guidelines.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission recommends that the Judicial Council approve the distribution of $23,152,904 in IOLTA-formula grants for 2017-2018 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. In addition, the commission recommends that the council approve the distribution of $2,856,479 in Equal Access Fund partnership grants for distribution to the legal services agencies for programs conducted jointly with courts to provide legal assistance to self-represented litigants.