Immigration: immigrant youth: access to legal counsel.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Chaptered
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill establishes a program to provide legal counsel to immigrant youth in California, defined as individuals under 18 lacking lawful immigration status who arrived in the U.S. without a parent or guardian. The Department of Social Services will allocate funds to qualified nonprofit legal services organizations or public defender offices meeting specific experience and training requirements to ensure access to legal representation in immigration proceedings. The program prioritizes organizations ineligible for federal funds or with unmet needs despite federal assistance.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘immigrant youth’ for the purpose of the program.
- Requires the Department of Social Services to allocate funding for legal counsel.
- Allows contracts with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations or public defender offices meeting specific criteria.
- Prioritizes organizations that cannot access federal funding.
- Authorizes funding for social work services to assist immigrant youth.
- Establishes access to counsel beginning when a youth is designated as unaccompanied.
- Permits legal representation in state court proceedings and federal immigration matters.
- Ensures ongoing access to counsel for youth who were previously assigned counsel before age 18.
Who is affected
- Immigrant youth (under 18 with no lawful immigration status)
- Nonprofit legal services organizations
- Public defender offices
Bill text
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Sponsors
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8 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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