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HB24-1286

Equal Justice Fund Authority

Type Bill
Session 2024 Regular Session
Subjects
Courts & Judicial

Concerning measures to increase access to the courts for indigent persons.

Bill Summary:

The act creates the equal justice authority as a special purpose authority to distribute an equal justice fee for the purpose of providing monetary support to local organizations that provide legal representation and legal advice to low-income individuals. The equal justice authority is governed by the equal justice authority board, which is created in the act.

The act requires certain court filings to incur the equal justice filing fee, which must be collected by the court and transmitted to the equal justice authority. The equal justice authority must deposit the money collected from the filing fee into an account maintained by a financial institution and distribute the money, beginning July 1, 2025, and each July 1 thereafter, to local organizations that provide legal representation and legal advice to low-income individuals.

On or before January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter, the equal justice authority must prepare and submit a report to the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee that details the use of the equal justice fees.

APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024

EFFECTIVE June 3, 2024
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status

Became Law

Introduced

Passed

Became Law

Related Documents & Information

Date Version Documents
06/03/2024 Signed Act PDF
05/29/2024 Final Act PDF
05/02/2024 Rerevised PDF
05/01/2024 Revised PDF
04/19/2024 Reengrossed PDF
04/18/2024 Engrossed PDF
02/13/2024 Introduced PDF
Date Version Documents
04/30/2024 PA3 PDF
04/15/2024 PA2 PDF
03/06/2024 PA1 PDF
Date Version Documents
08/09/2024 FN3 PDF
04/16/2024 FN2 PDF
04/29/2024 MEMO2 PDF
03/01/2024 FN1 PDF
03/27/2024 MEMO1 PDF
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment L.010 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Refer House Bill 24-1286, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 4-3. Vote summary
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment L), which amends amendment L.004. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. Vote summary
Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment G), as amended. The motion passed without objection. Vote summary
Refer House Bill 24-1286, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. Vote summary
Activity Vote Documents
Activity Vote Documents
Adopt amendment L.003 The motion failed on a vote of 5-6. Vote summary
Adopt amendment L.001 The motion passed on a vote of 7-4. Vote summary
Refer House Bill 24-1286, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. Vote summary
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
05/04/2024 Senate Amendments REPASS
44
AYE
16
NO
5
OTHER
Vote record
05/04/2024 Senate Amendments CONCUR
50
AYE
10
NO
5
OTHER
Vote record
04/19/2024 Third Reading BILL
43
AYE
17
NO
5
OTHER
Vote record
Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document
05/02/2024 Third Reading BILL
27
AYE
8
NO
0
OTHER
Vote record
Date Amendment Number Committee/ Floor Hearing Status Documents
04/29/2024 L.010 SEN Finance Passed [*] PDF
04/10/2024 L.004 HOU Finance Passed [*] PDF
04/10/2024 L.009 HOU Finance Passed [*] PDF
03/05/2024 L.001 HOU Judiciary Passed [*] PDF
03/05/2024 L.003 HOU Judiciary Lost PDF
Date Location Action
06/03/2024 Governor Governor Signed
05/29/2024 Governor Sent to the Governor
05/29/2024 Senate Signed by the President of the Senate
05/29/2024 House Signed by the Speaker of the House
05/04/2024 Senate House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
05/03/2024 Senate House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
05/02/2024 Senate Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
05/01/2024 Senate Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
04/29/2024 Senate Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
04/22/2024 Senate Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance
04/19/2024 House House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
04/18/2024 House House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
04/16/2024 House House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over with Amendments to 04/18/2024 - Committee
04/10/2024 House House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/25/2024 House House Committee on Finance Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
03/05/2024 House House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Finance
02/13/2024 House Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
Effective Date Chapter # Title Documents
06/03/2024 339 Equal Justice Fund Authority PDF