MS HB385

Increases the civil filing fee collected by chancery and circuit court clerks from $5.00 to $15.00 per filing, with proceeds deposited into the Civil Legal Assistance Fund.

Mandates that all fees collected by chancery and circuit court clerks for the Civil Legal Assistance Fund be allocated specifically to the Mississippi Center for Legal Services.

The Civil Legal Assistance Fund, administered by the Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of Courts, provides legal services to low-income Mississippians and cannot fund services prohibited by the Legal Services Corporation.

Recipients of fund monies must operate free civil legal services programs for indigent clients, report annually to the Supreme Court, and refund any unused funds.