Immigration Legal Fellowship Project.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text indicates that the implementation of these provisions is contingent on an appropriation for these purposes, which means there are uncertainties regarding the exact amount and availability of funds.

Immigration Legal Fellowship Project

This law sets up a program within the State Department of Social Services to provide grants or contracts to nonprofit organizations to support legal fellowships in rural and underserved areas, aiming to expand access to high-quality immigration legal services.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Immigration Legal Fellowship Project within the State Department of Social Services.
• Requires the department to award grants or enter into contracts with nonprofit entities for operating legal fellowships that include recruitment, placement, coordination, and hosting of legal fellows in rural and underserved regions.
• Authorizes the department to establish eligibility criteria, application requirements, and funding priorities for the program.
• Requires reports on the use of funds appropriated for the project to be included in updates provided to the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

• Immigrants needing legal help in California
• Nonprofit organizations that provide immigration legal services
• Legal fellows placed in underserved areas

Terms To Know

legal fellowships

Programs where trained lawyers work to help people with their legal needs, especially those who cannot afford it.

underserved regions

Areas that do not have enough services or resources for the people living there.

Limits and Unknowns

• The program will only start if money is given by the government.
• It does not specify how much funding will be provided.
• Details about who can apply and what they need to do are left up to the State Department of Social Services.

Official Summary Text

SB 1194, as amended, Caballero.
Immigration Legal Fellowship
Program.
Project.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, subject to an appropriation, to provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations through contracts, in order to provide certain immigration-related legal services to persons residing in, or formerly residing in, the state. Under existing law, those grants are aimed at obtaining certain immigration remedies and benefits, assisting with the naturalization process and an appeal arising from the process, or providing legal training and technical assistance.
This bill would
state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish the Immigration Legal Fellowship Program within the State Department of Social Services to expand access to high-quality immigration legal services, including removal defense, by supporting the placement of qualified legal fellows in rural and
underserved regions of California.
establish the Immigration Legal Fellowship Project within the department for the purpose of expanding access to high-quality immigration legal services by supporting legal fellowships for qualified individuals who provide immigration legal services under the grant programs described above. The bill would require the department to award grants or enter into contracts with nonprofit entities to operate legal fellowships that include specified components, including, among other things, the recruitment, placement, coordination, and hosting of legal fellows. The bill would authorize the department to establish eligibility criteria, application requirements, and funding priorities for the program. The bill would require the department to include specified information relating to the use of funds appropriated for the purposes of the project in reports and updates provided to the Legislature
regarding other immigration-related programs. The bill would provide that the implementation of these provisions is contingent on an appropriation for these purposes.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF