27A.600 Designation of nonprofit legal services agencies -- Funding -- Promotion of pro bono legal assistance. - Kentucky Statutes

Download pdf

Loading PDF...

Page 1 of 2 27A.600 Designation of nonprofit legal services agencies -- Funding -- Promotion of pro bono legal assistance. (1) For each judicial district, the Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall designate a nonprofit agency to operate and administer programs for the provision
of legal services to indigent clients involved in civil matters within the judicial
district.
(a) This agency shall be the nonprofit legal services organization designated as eligible to receive funds from the federal Legal Services Corporation for the
provision of civil legal services to the indigent, if one exists. The nonprofit
legal services organization shall receive supplemental funds provided by this
section for each county in the district in which it provides service. (b) At least twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of any funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (1)(a) shall be used to promote increased participation
by the private bar in the delivery of legal services to the indigent through pro
bono efforts, which may include the operation of intake and referral systems;
the provision of professional education regarding legal matters peculiar to the
indigent; the provision of technical co-counselling assistance to private
attorneys engaged in representing indigent clients in civil matters; and
reimbursement of reasonable costs and expenses incurred by private attorneys
in delivering pro bono legal assistance. Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed as limiting the maximum amount of funds appropriated under this
section which may be used for promotion of pro bono efforts by the private
bar, where the local legal services organization's board of directors deems that
an effective and efficient system of delivering legal assistance to the local
indigent population would require the allocation of a sum in excess of twelve
and one-half percent (12.5%) of the funds disbursed pursuant to this section.
The local organization's board of directors shall annually review the
appropriate allocation of funds from this section for the promotion of pro
bono services by the private bar. (c) If any county in the Commonwealth is not currently served by a nonprofit agency eligible to receive funds from the federal Legal Services Corporation,
the Chief Justice shall designate a nonprofit agency to provide legal services
to indigent clients in civil matters within that county. (2) In designating an agency pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the Chief Justice shall consult with the Chief Circuit Judge of the judicial district, the president of the
local bar association within the county or the judicial district, and agencies
providing legal services to indigent clients in civil matters within the judicial
district. The designated agency may serve one (1) or more counties within the
judicial district, and designation of a multicounty agency shall be undertaken if
consultations indicate that it would promote efficient use of funds. To receive
designation, an agency shall certify to the Chief Justice that:
(a) It is incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky;
(b) It is an organization within the meaning of Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and Page 2 of 2 (c) All persons participating in delivery of legal services to agency clients provide the service without any fee to the client for these services. Effective: July 15, 1994
History: Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 338, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994.