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Committee advances bill to allow legal aid fund to cover eviction cases
Summary
House Bill 20 14 was reported out as do pass, 6-2. Sponsor Representative Pei would expand the legal aid revolving fund’s eligible cases from domestic violence matters to include eviction cases; the bill does not change the fund's appropriation level, and the sponsor cited an attorney general opinion supporting broader use.
Representative Pei told the committee that House Bill 20 14 modifies eligibility for the legal aid fund, which is currently used for domestic violence cases, to also include eviction cases.
"House bill 20 14, modifies the eligibility for the legal aid fund, which currently is used for domestic violence cases, which will also include eviction cases," Representative Pei said.
Members asked whether adding eviction cases would reduce funding available to domestic violence victims. Representative Dole asked whether domestic violence victims would see decreased funding because eviction cases were included. Pei said the appropriation level is not addressed in the bill and that funding levels would be a budget question later in the process. Pei also said the sponsor had consulted Michael Figgins, executive director of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, who supports the change. Pei said an attorney general opinion from the prior summer indicated the revolving fund can be used for civil cases like eviction and domestic violence matters on a case-by-case basis.
A committee vote recorded 6 yeas and 2 nays; the bill was reported out as do pass.
