Committee approves amendment to make law‑school immigration clinic a one‑time $400,000 project
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Summary
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division amended and passed House Bill 1600 to provide $400,000 in one‑time funding from the strategic investment/CIF fund for an immigration law clinic at the state law school, with reporting required to the 70th legislative assembly.
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division moved and approved an amendment to House Bill 1600 that changes funding for a proposed immigration law clinic at the state law school to one‑time rather than ongoing general fund support.
Under the amendment approved by the committee, $400,000 will be appropriated one time from the Strategic Investment (CIF) fund to support a clinic that places a staff attorney in the law school and uses law students to provide immigration services. The amendment retains reporting language requiring the law school to report to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly on how the pilot project performed.
Committee members said testimony indicated only a handful of attorneys in the state specialize in immigration law and that witnesses supported the pilot approach. Senator Meyer moved the amendment; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the amendment by recorded voice votes. The committee then voted to pass House Bill 1600 as amended and designated Senator Meyer to carry the bill to the full committee.
Recorded committee votes on both the amendment and the bill as amended were taken and were reported as unanimous 'Aye' votes by senators present during the roll call recorded in the transcript.