Title
Title
Equal Access Fund: Distribution of Funds for Partnership Grants and IOLTA-Formula Grants (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Budget Act of 2018 includes over $25 million in the Equal Access Fund for distribution to legal services providers and support centers. These monies are distributed primarily in two parts: IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts)-formula grants and partnership grants (with a small amount also distributed for administration). The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar recommends approving distribution of $23,039,970 in IOLTA-formula grants for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19, according to the statutory formula in the state Budget Act, and $2,575,000 in partnership grants for 2019. 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 $23,039,970 in IOLTA-formula grants for FY 2018-19 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 $2,575,000 in Equal Access Fund partnership grants to the following legal services agencies for programs conducted jointly with courts to provide legal assistance to self-represented litigants:
1. Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services
Family Law Day of Court Project ... $30,000
Family Law Status Conference ... $65,000
2. Bay Area Legal Aid
San Mateo County Consumer Debt Clinic...$30,000
3. Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Self-Help Elder and Dependent Adult Restraining Order Clinic
(Los Angeles County) ... $80,000
4. California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
San Luis Obispo C...
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