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Governor Patrick signed the FY09 budget into law on July 13, 2008 with a $1.4 million increase for civil legal aid - budget line item 0321-1600, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC).
Early in the budget process, EJC's advocacy made an impression on Governor Patrick as his budget recommendations, released in January, included a $2.4 million increase for the MLAC line item. This was the first time in recent memory that a Governor's budget had contained such a large increase for the MLAC line item.
Things shifted between January and early May when the House released its budget recommendations. Despite the worsening economic picture, the House included a $1.3 million increase in its budget. We pressed on to the Senate and in late May the Senate's budget included a $1.4 million increase.
Ultimately, the Conference Committee adopted the Senate's appropriation figure for MLAC ($1.4 million increase) and that figure was maintained in the final budget.
Thank you to all who sent a letter, an email or made a phone call during the funding campaign - we couldn't do it without you!
Click here to read the FY2009 Budget Fact Sheet.
Below is the final version of MLAC line item 0321-1600:
For the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation to provide legal representation for indigent or otherwise disadvantaged residents of the commonwealth; provided, that notwithstanding section 9 of chapter 221A of the General Laws, $1,370,801 shall be expended for the disability benefits project, $618,742 shall be expended for the Medicare Advocacy Project, and $2,834,024 shall be expended for the Battered Women's Legal Assistance Project; provided further, that the corporation shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than January 30, 2009 that shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) the number of persons whom the programs funded by the corporation assisted in the prior fiscal year; (b) any proposed expansion of legal services delineated by type of service, target population, and cost; and (c) the total number of indigent or otherwise disadvantaged residents of the commonwealth who received services of the corporation, by type of case and geographic location; and provided further, that the corporation may contract with any organization for the purpose of providing the representation.
$11,070,424 |
