Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2520Introduced by Assembly Member GabrielFebruary 17, 2022An act to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2520, as amended, Gabriel. Department of Justice: Office of Access to Justice.Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, which is responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs, including the California Criminalistics Institute.This bill would require the department to establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, as specified. The bill would prescribe the offices duties, which include promoting require the office to promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems, systems by, among other things, advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General, establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, and evaluating and triaging statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, as specified. identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department. The bill would authorize the office to provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature. The bill would require the office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(a) According to a 2017 Justice Gap Report by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance for approximately 85 percent of the civil legal problems that they face.(b) According to the 2019 study The The California Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Californians, Californians, in California, while 60 percent of low-income people experience at least one civil legal problem in their household each year, 23 percent have six or more civil legal problems per year. The study also found, consistent with national findings, that low-income people received inadequate or no legal help for 85 percent of these problems.(c) On average, there is only one civil legal aid attorney available per 5,500 low-income Californians. In rural areas, that disparity is much larger.(d) Equal access to justice advances the missions of many state programs, especially those designed to lift people out of poverty.(e) The Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice grew from a 2010 initiative of then-United States Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2016, it was established as a stand-alone office within the United States Department of Justice with responsibility to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal indigent defense and civil legal aid. It was reestablished in October 2021 by United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following a memorandum issued by President Biden reaffirming the departments role in securing meaningful access to justice. The office has achieved many successes since its inception, including serving as the central authority on access to justice for the United States government and, through its Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, clarifying the scope of dozens of federal programs to include the provision of legal aid, thereby furthering program goals.SEC. 2. Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) is added to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2520Introduced by Assembly Member GabrielFebruary 17, 2022An act to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2520, as amended, Gabriel. Department of Justice: Office of Access to Justice.Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, which is responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs, including the California Criminalistics Institute.This bill would require the department to establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, as specified. The bill would prescribe the offices duties, which include promoting require the office to promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems, systems by, among other things, advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General, establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, and evaluating and triaging statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, as specified. identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department. The bill would authorize the office to provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature. The bill would require the office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022
Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2022
Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2022
Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2520
Introduced by Assembly Member GabrielFebruary 17, 2022
Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel
February 17, 2022
An act to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2520, as amended, Gabriel. Department of Justice: Office of Access to Justice.
Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, which is responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs, including the California Criminalistics Institute.This bill would require the department to establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, as specified. The bill would prescribe the offices duties, which include promoting require the office to promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems, systems by, among other things, advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General, establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, and evaluating and triaging statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, as specified. identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department. The bill would authorize the office to provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature. The bill would require the office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.
Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, which is responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs, including the California Criminalistics Institute.
This bill would require the department to establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, as specified. The bill would prescribe the offices duties, which include promoting require the office to promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems, systems by, among other things, advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General, establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, and evaluating and triaging statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, as specified. identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department. The bill would authorize the office to provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature. The bill would require the office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(a) According to a 2017 Justice Gap Report by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance for approximately 85 percent of the civil legal problems that they face.(b) According to the 2019 study The The California Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Californians, Californians, in California, while 60 percent of low-income people experience at least one civil legal problem in their household each year, 23 percent have six or more civil legal problems per year. The study also found, consistent with national findings, that low-income people received inadequate or no legal help for 85 percent of these problems.(c) On average, there is only one civil legal aid attorney available per 5,500 low-income Californians. In rural areas, that disparity is much larger.(d) Equal access to justice advances the missions of many state programs, especially those designed to lift people out of poverty.(e) The Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice grew from a 2010 initiative of then-United States Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2016, it was established as a stand-alone office within the United States Department of Justice with responsibility to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal indigent defense and civil legal aid. It was reestablished in October 2021 by United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following a memorandum issued by President Biden reaffirming the departments role in securing meaningful access to justice. The office has achieved many successes since its inception, including serving as the central authority on access to justice for the United States government and, through its Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, clarifying the scope of dozens of federal programs to include the provision of legal aid, thereby furthering program goals.SEC. 2. Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) is added to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(a) According to a 2017 Justice Gap Report by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance for approximately 85 percent of the civil legal problems that they face.(b) According to the 2019 study The The California Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Californians, Californians, in California, while 60 percent of low-income people experience at least one civil legal problem in their household each year, 23 percent have six or more civil legal problems per year. The study also found, consistent with national findings, that low-income people received inadequate or no legal help for 85 percent of these problems.(c) On average, there is only one civil legal aid attorney available per 5,500 low-income Californians. In rural areas, that disparity is much larger.(d) Equal access to justice advances the missions of many state programs, especially those designed to lift people out of poverty.(e) The Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice grew from a 2010 initiative of then-United States Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2016, it was established as a stand-alone office within the United States Department of Justice with responsibility to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal indigent defense and civil legal aid. It was reestablished in October 2021 by United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following a memorandum issued by President Biden reaffirming the departments role in securing meaningful access to justice. The office has achieved many successes since its inception, including serving as the central authority on access to justice for the United States government and, through its Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, clarifying the scope of dozens of federal programs to include the provision of legal aid, thereby furthering program goals.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:(a) According to a 2017 Justice Gap Report by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance for approximately 85 percent of the civil legal problems that they face.(b) According to the 2019 study The The California Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Californians, Californians, in California, while 60 percent of low-income people experience at least one civil legal problem in their household each year, 23 percent have six or more civil legal problems per year. The study also found, consistent with national findings, that low-income people received inadequate or no legal help for 85 percent of these problems.(c) On average, there is only one civil legal aid attorney available per 5,500 low-income Californians. In rural areas, that disparity is much larger.(d) Equal access to justice advances the missions of many state programs, especially those designed to lift people out of poverty.(e) The Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice grew from a 2010 initiative of then-United States Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2016, it was established as a stand-alone office within the United States Department of Justice with responsibility to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal indigent defense and civil legal aid. It was reestablished in October 2021 by United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following a memorandum issued by President Biden reaffirming the departments role in securing meaningful access to justice. The office has achieved many successes since its inception, including serving as the central authority on access to justice for the United States government and, through its Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, clarifying the scope of dozens of federal programs to include the provision of legal aid, thereby furthering program goals.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
### SECTION 1.
(a) According to a 2017 Justice Gap Report by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance for approximately 85 percent of the civil legal problems that they face.
(b) According to the 2019 study The The California Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Californians, Californians, in California, while 60 percent of low-income people experience at least one civil legal problem in their household each year, 23 percent have six or more civil legal problems per year. The study also found, consistent with national findings, that low-income people received inadequate or no legal help for 85 percent of these problems.
(c) On average, there is only one civil legal aid attorney available per 5,500 low-income Californians. In rural areas, that disparity is much larger.
(d) Equal access to justice advances the missions of many state programs, especially those designed to lift people out of poverty.
(e) The Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice grew from a 2010 initiative of then-United States Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2016, it was established as a stand-alone office within the United States Department of Justice with responsibility to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal indigent defense and civil legal aid. It was reestablished in October 2021 by United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following a memorandum issued by President Biden reaffirming the departments role in securing meaningful access to justice. The office has achieved many successes since its inception, including serving as the central authority on access to justice for the United States government and, through its Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, clarifying the scope of dozens of federal programs to include the provision of legal aid, thereby furthering program goals.
SEC. 2. Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) is added to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
SEC. 2. Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15210) is added to Part 6 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
### SEC. 2.
CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice
CHAPTER 4. Office of Access to Justice
15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Department means the Department of Justice.(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.
15210. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) Department means the Department of Justice.
(b) Office means the Office of Access to Justice.
15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.
15210.1. (a) The department shall establish an Office of Access to Justice by January 1, 2024, for the purpose of increasing the availability of meaningful access to justice for all Californians, thereby improving the outcomes of state programs.
(b) The department shall provide sufficient personnel and funds to establish and operate the office.
(c) Notwithstanding this section, the department may use an existing branch or division within the department to serve as the office for purposes of implementing this chapter.
15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.(C)Convene (A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.(D)(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.(D)(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.
15210.2. (a) The office shall do promote access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems by doing all of the following:
(1) Promote Promoting access to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the California criminal and civil justice systems within the department by doing all of the following:
(A) Developing policy recommendations and advising Advising the Attorney General on access to justice issues. issues and developing policy recommendations for the Attorney General.
(B) Coordinating with other all divisions and bureaus within the department to ensure each is considering access to justice in policy, enforcement, and funding decisions.
(C) Submitting statements of interest or amicus briefs in legal cases that implicate access to justice concerns.
(2) Establish Promoting access to justice within the executive branch by establishing a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, which shall do all both of the following:
(A)Aid the office in promoting access to justice by working with state agencies and departments.
(B)Raise awareness of state agencies and departments of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance a wide range of state objectives, including, but not limited to, employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, disaster response, and public safety.
(C)Convene
(A) Invite representatives of state agencies and departments to improve coordination of with programs that help the vulnerable and underserved so that those programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes by including, when to convene in order to advise the representatives on incorporating access to justice principles and, where appropriate, including legal services among the range of supportive services provided. a program provides so that those programs are more efficient and produce improved outcomes for the populations they serve.
(D)
(B) Facilitate strategic partnerships with and between state agencies, legal aid nonprofits, and other relevant groups to promote access to civil legal aid and indigent defense and further civil rights objectives. to improve the efficiency and outcomes of state programs.
(E)Advance evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on civil legal aid and indigent defense.
(3) Evaluate and triage Promoting access to justice statewide legal aid capacity and civil legal needs, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:
(A) Communicating Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians by communicating regularly with local legal aid organizations and community groups. organizations, community groups, and divisions and bureaus within the department.
(B) Reviewing and Improving the states understanding of access to justice by evaluating existing data and advancing evidence-based research and data collection regarding civil legal needs and services.
(C)Identifying emerging legal issues among low-income Californians.
(D)
(C) Communicating findings to state agencies, nonprofits, agencies and departments, social service providers, and the Legislature via consolidated reports and updates. updates, as approved by the Attorney General.
(b) The office may provide analysis and input as necessary on issues related to civil legal aid and access to justice for legislative proposals pending before the Legislature.
(c) (1) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, describing the offices activities.
(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with Section 9795.