HB916: HB916 Judicial Council; funding for civil legal services to low-income individuals; create grant program

25 LC 59 0180 House Bill 916 By: Representatives Lupton of the 83rd and Lim of the 98th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 15 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to the Judicial Council, so as to create a grant program for the purpose of providing2 funding for civil legal services to low-income individuals; to provide for eligibility criteria3 and standards; to provide for the council to establish the grant amounts; to provide for related4 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the8 Judicial Council, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:9 "15-5-27.10 Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly or other available funding, the Judicial11 Council shall provide grants to counties and municipalities for the purpose of providing12 civil legal services to low-income individuals. The council shall be authorized to establish13 eligibility criteria and shall consult with advocacy groups and indigent legal services14 experts in establishing such criteria and standards. The counc il shall be authorized to15 establish the grant amount awarded to each recipient on a case-by-case basis."16 H. B. 916 - 1 - 25 LC 59 0180 SECTION 2.17 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.18 H. B. 916 - 2 -