1999-2001 Civil Legal Services Funding Initiative
August, 1998
I. The Premise
Equal access to the civil justice system is a central, non-partisan promise of our democracy.
Civil access to justice is a chronic problem that has reached a crisis level in Washington State.
Funding for civil equal justice is a joint state, federal and private responsibility.
Washington State's civil equal justice system requires an increase of $10 million in state support over the next biennium.
II. The WSBA's Proposal
Create a civil equal justice revolving fund into which the state share of civil filing fees is deposited and from which civil legal services appropriations are made.
Increase Superior Court civil filing fee by $30, from $110 to $140. State's share to civil equal justice revolving fund.
Establish a Superior Court civil answer fee of $45 per filing. State's share to civil equal justice revolving fund.
Establish a $14 civil equal justice surcharge on District Court civil filings. $10 to go to civil equal justice revolving fund/$4 for local county law libraries.
Increase law libraries' base take from $12 to $17, and the maximum from $15 to $20 ($22 in counties with multiple library sites).
Dedicate local share of increased filing fee for county-based civil equal justice efforts (e.g., pro se assistance, pro bono support, expanded clerk capacity, etc.).
Revenue Effect of WSBA's Proposal
State Civil Legal Services$4.62 million per year $9.24 million per biennium
Counties (for support of local civil equal$3.07 million per year justice efforts)$6.14 million per biennium
County Law Libraries$1.51 million per year $3.02 million per biennium
What New Funding will be Used for
In accordance with the Access to Justice Board's plan for the delivery of civil legal services for the poor in Washington State and RCW 43.08.260, the new state funds will support:
A fully operational statewide civil legal services intake, advice and referral hotline.
Restored civil legal services presence in key geographic regions (Tri-cities/Southeast; Vancouver/Southwest; Bremerton/Olympic Peninsula; Bellingham/Northwest).
New rural civil legal services partnerships with the private bar.
Expanded regional office capacity to meet the demands of low-income and senior clients in key areas (family law/domestic violence; housing; consumer; health; disability).
Expanded courthouse-based efforts to make the civil legal system accessible to unrepresented persons.
Increased capacity of county law libraries to help meet the civil legal needs of unrepresented persons.
See Also
