LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7117 NOTE PREPARED: Mar 10, 2025
BILL NUMBER: SB 222 BILL AMENDED: Feb 13, 2025
SUBJECT: Civil Legal Aid Fund.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Carrasco BILL STATUS: CR Adopted - 2
nd
House
FIRST SPONSOR: Rep. Jeter
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
XDEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation:This bill limits how a legal services provider may use funds from the Civil Legal
Aid Fund (fund). It relocates a provision concerning fund distribution. It repeals the distribution formula of
the fund statute. It also requires the Office of Judicial Administration to annually report certain information
regarding the fund to the State Budget Committee.
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Office of Judicial Administration (OJA): The bill will increase the OJA
workload to report certain information regarding the fund to the State Budget Committee. It could also reduce
agency workload to administer the fund according to the statutory formula.
Currently, the OJA partners with the Indiana Bar Foundation to distribute $3.0 M annually in grants to
qualifying county’s legal service providers. The OJA shall report each recipient of the funds, the amount
distributed to each recipient, and the amount of administrative costs.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: The bill does not require the OJA to develop a new formula for
distribution of the fund. The actual impact on county legal service providers is indeterminate and will depend
on how funds are distributed in the future.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Office of Judicial Administration.
Local Agencies Affected: Local units.
Information Sources:
SB 222 1 Fiscal Analyst: Corrin Harvey, 317-234-9438.
SB 222 2