Bill Text: HI HB1452 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Civil Legal Services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-03-15 - The committee on JDC deferred the measure. [HB1452 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-HB1452-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1452 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part
. Hawaii legal aid
interagency roundtable
§346- Establishment; definitions. (a) There is established the Hawaii legal aid interagency roundtable.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter:
"Government agency" means any department, commission, authority, office, or other agency of the State or any county.
"Roundtable" means the Hawaii legal aid interagency roundtable.
§346- Membership. (a) The attorney general and the director of human services, or their designees, shall serve as co-chairs of the roundtable, which shall also be composed of representatives from the following government agencies:
(1) The department of health;
(2) The executive office on aging;
(3) The department of commerce and consumer affairs;
(4) The department of labor and industrial relations;
(5) The office of community services;
(6) The Hawaii public housing authority;
(7) The civil rights commission;
(8) The office of Hawaiian affairs;
(9) The department of Hawaiian home lands;
(10) The department of public safety; and
(11) Any other government agency the co-chairs may, from time to time, designate.
(b) The co-chairs may invite the participation of the judiciary to the extent consistent with law and legal obligations.
§346- Mission and function. (a) The roundtable shall work across government agencies to:
(1) Improve coordination among state programs that help low-income, indigent, vulnerable, and at-risk populations, and include, where appropriate, legal services among the range of supportive services provided by the state programs, so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes;
(3) Develop policy recommendations that improve access to justice in state and local jurisdictions;
(4) Advance relevant evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis of civil legal aid and indigent defense, and promulgate best practices to support the activities detailed in paragraphs (1) to (4); and
(5) On an ongoing basis, evaluate:
(A) How providing low-income, indigent, vulnerable, and at-risk populations with access to civil legal services may serve or further the missions, responsibilities, and goals of government agencies; and
(B) The use or potential use of federal grant money received by government agencies for the purposes described in subparagraph (A).
(b) The roundtable shall submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session on its success in achieving its mission, and shall include:
(2) A summary of the evaluation required under paragraph (a)(5), including the amount of money spent, if any, by government agencies to facilitate access to civil legal services; and
(3) Policy recommendations to facilitate access to civil legal services.
(c) The roundtable shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature on the economic impact of funding access to civil legal services no later than January 1, 2021.
§346- Administration. (a) The roundtable shall hold meetings at least three times a year and engage with federal, state, and local officials, technical advisors, and nongovernmental organizations, among others, as necessary to carry out its mission.
(b) The attorney general and director of human services, or their designees, shall convene regular meetings of the roundtable and supervise its work. The department of human services' staff shall serve as the staff of the roundtable.
(c) The department of human services shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, provide administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, equipment, and other support services as may be necessary for the roundtable to carry out its mission."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the Hawaii legal aid interagency roundtable.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.
PART II
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the judiciary to purchase civil legal services for low- and moderate-income persons.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.
PART III
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
Report Title:
Hawaii
Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable; Civil Legal Services
Description:
Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to facilitate cooperation between various state agencies regarding civil legal services and access to justice. Appropriates funds for the Judiciary to purchase civil legal services for low- and moderate-income persons. (HB1452 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
