Chief Patron: Spruill
Co-Patron(s): Armstrong, Scott, J., Ware, O.
Additional Funding for Legal Aid Services

Item 41 #2h

Language
Page 28, line 2, strike "$5,423,515" and insert "$5,923,515".

Explanation
(This amendment provides $500,000 from the general fund in the second year to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia, a creation of the Virginia State Bar, for the provision of legal services to indigent persons. The Legal Services Corporation of Virginia currently receives a large portion of the funds it distributes to associated legal aid societies from the interest earned on certain trust accounts controlled by lawyers. Due to record low interest rates, the revenue generated from these interest payments has fallen by more than $1.0 million. In addition, the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia recently discovered federal support previously received from a U.S. Department of Justice domestic violence grant had been eliminated. Consequently, the organization cut its distributions to its associated legal aid societies by more than $500,000 in the current fiscal year. The additional general fund support will allow the program to operate with the same funding as it did during fiscal year 2003.)