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Committee advances bill to fund Pennsylvania legal aid amid divided votes
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee reported House Bill 331, which provides funding for Pennsylvania legal aid by deleting an exception in Title 42, Section 3733.1. The measure passed in committee on a 14–12 vote after members voiced concerns about the funding mechanism and fee impacts.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to report House Bill 331 to the floor following debate about how the legal aid funding would be structured.
Counsel summarized the bill as deleting an exception in Title 42, Section 3733.1 to provide funding for legal aid; the bill takes effect in 60 days. Committee members expressed support for funding legal aid but several said they had concerns about the funding mechanism and the potential cumulative effect of fees on the public. Chairman Briggs and Chairman Kaufman both spoke in favor of addressing a funding shortfall for legal aid, while other members said they were not ready to support the measure as drafted.
Vote: The roll call recorded in the transcript shows the committee voted 14–12 in favor of reporting HB 331. No amendments were recorded in the transcript. Counsel Vitale noted there are no amendments and the bill takes effect in 60 days.
Ending: The bill passed committee and will be reported as committed to the floor; members indicated willingness to continue conversations about funding details.
