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IN SB0296

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/7/2016

Primary Sponsor

James Banks

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2016 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Establishes the military legal assistance unit within the attorney general's office to deliver legal assistance programs, pro bono services, and self-help services to active and veteran servicemembers from all U.S. armed forces branches and reserve components.

  • Unit shall create and maintain a registry of volunteer attorneys and service programs, recruit volunteers, assess and assign servicemember requests for pro bono assistance, and coordinate with military installation legal offices.

  • Unit may provide assistance in consumer law, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act issues, employment and reemployment rights, civil liability, probate law, contract law, administrative law, and family law matters that do not create inequity among family members.

  • Unit is prohibited from providing court representation to servicemembers or legal assistance to servicemembers facing criminal prosecution in civilian or military court.

  • Attorney general may accept grants, gifts, donations, bequests, and devises on behalf of the unit, with all proceeds used for the unit's purposes; effective July 1, 2016.

Legislative Description

Pro bono representation of veterans. Creates the military legal assistance unit (unit) within the office of the attorney general. Requires the unit to facilitate the delivery of legal assistance programs, pro bono services, and self help services to current and veteran members of the United States armed forces. Specifies the topics and areas of law with which the unit may provide assistance. Prohibits the unit from providing court representation to servicemembers. Prohibits the unit from providing legal advice or legal assistance to servicemembers being criminally prosecuted in a civilian or military court of law. Allows the attorney general to accept:

Last Action

First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

1/7/2016

Committee Referrals

Judiciary1/7/2016

Full Bill Text

No bill text available