Legislative efforts

The Commission takes an active role in monitoring and promoting legislation to increase access to justice. In concert with the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Commission regularly works with Texas lawmakers on both the state and federal level to reduce the gap between the need for legal services and the resources available to serve low-income Texans. 

Increasing funding and resources for civil legal aid is important for all Texans, not just the poor. According to a 2013 study conducted by the Perryman Group, for every dollar spent in Texas for indigent legal services there is a $7.48 increase in total spending, $3.59 in output, and $2.22 in personal income. Moreover, this activity generates approximately $47.5 million in yearly fiscal revenue to state and local governments and helps maintain 4,528 permanent jobs.

The Commission and its partners continue to look for new ways to bring funding and resources to civil legal services by collaborating with legislators at the state and national level to support and promote legislation that will positively impact legal services to the poor.

 

State

Throughout each legislative session and during interim years, the Commission works to ensure that lawmakers across the state understand how barriers to justice affect their constituents and raise awareness about the importance of access to justice for all Texans. More »

National

In addition to increasing state funding for legal aid, the Commission works to secure federal funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). LSC is an independent nonprofit corporation that promotes access to justice and provides grants from federal funds to legal aid organizations across the nation for high-quality legal assistance. Three Texas providers receive LSC funding: Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. These three LSC organizations serve the majority of legal aid clients in Texas, and this federal funding is vital to the continued work of civil legal aid in Texas.  More »