Legal Services Corporation Act
Latest action. Measure indefinitely postponed, H.R. 7824 passed in lieu.
(LATEST SUMMARY) Legal Services Corporation Act - Establishes in the District of Columbia a private nonmembership nonprofit corporation to be known as the "Legal Services Corporation," for the purpose of providing financial support for legal assistance in noncriminal matters to persons financially unable to afford legal assistance. States that the corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of eleven voting members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, no more than six of whom shall be of the same political party. Prohibits members of the Board from seeking employment with an association which has benefited from any action of such Board for two years following such action. Provides that within six months following the first meeting of the Board, the Board shall request the Governor of each State to appoint a nine-member advisory council for his State. Sets forth the corporation's powers, duties and limitations. Authorizes the corporation to make grants to, and to contract with, individuals, partnerships, firms, organizations, corporations, and State and local governments for the purpose of providing legal assistance to eligible clients. Establishes a National Advisory council to Consult with the Board and the president of the corporation regarding the activities of the corporation. Requires that a majority of the members of the Advisory Council be members of the legal profession. Sets forth the conditions for the eligibility of an individual to receive legal assistance under this Act. Provides that the Governors of the several States, along with the Director of Officer Management and Budget, shall establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. States that no funds made available by the corporation under this Act, either by grant or contract, may be used: (1) to provide legal assistance under this Act with respect to a criminal proceeding; (2) for any political activities; (3) to make grants to or contracts with, any public interest law firm which expends 50 percent or more of its resources and time litigating issues in the broad interests of a majority of the public; (4) to provide legal assistance to any unemancipated person of less than eighteen years of age, except in enumerated instances; (5) to support or conduct training programs for the purpose of advocating, as distinguished from the dissemination of information about, particular public policies or encouraging political activities, labor or antilabor activities, illegal boycotts, picketing, strikes, or demonstrations; or (6) to organize or to encourage to organize the creation or structuring of any organization except for the rendering of legal advice and representation by an attorney as an attorney for any eligible client with respect to such client's legal rights and responsibilities. States that the corporation shall provide for a study of the existing staff-attorney program under this Act and of alternative methods of delivery of legal services to eligible clients, including judicare, vouchers, prepaid legal insurance, and contracts with law firms, and shall make recommendations to the President and the Congress within two years concerning improvements, changes, or alternative methods for delivery of such systems. Prohibits legal services attorneys from involving themselves in abortion issues. Authorizes the corporation to require such reports as it deems necessary from recipients of grants or contracts. States that the accounts of the corporation shall be audited annually. Limits authorizations for the corporation to three years. Authorizes to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Corporation, $71,500,000 for fiscal year 1974, $90,000,000 for the fiscal year 1975, and $100,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976, and for each subsequent fiscal year. Provides that nothing contained in this title shall be deemed to authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States or of the District of Columbia to exercise any direction, supervision, or control with respect to the corporation, any grantee, contractor, or person or entity receiving financial assistance under this title.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Reported to Senate with amendment(s)" stage on November 9, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Measure indefinitely postponed, H.R. 7824 passed in lieu.
Civibrief does not map this action to a stage in the process. See the official record.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
The latest action on file does not map to a stage Civibrief recognizes, so the page will not name one. The record's own words are the reliable fact here.
The record's latest action, on January 31, 1974: Measure indefinitely postponed, H.R. 7824 passed in lieu.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one has no outstanding steps listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
GAYLORD NELSON (D-WI) introduced it on November 9, 1973, and 11 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 9 Democrats, 2 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on November 9, 1973, 19298 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19215 days ago, on January 31, 1974.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateMeasure indefinitely postponed, H.R. 7824 passed in lieu.
- HouseNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action