Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee
Purpose:
Makes recommendations on which pilot projects will be selected and provides input into the design of the pilot projects evaluations, which are required by the authorizing legislation.
Date Established: September 1, 2010
Key projects of this advisory body are outlined in the annual agenda.
March 26, 2020 Meeting (Closed with Open)
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Past Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee Meetings
The 15-member advisory committee is Chaired by Justice Earl Johnson, Jr. (Ret.), the committee includes sitting and retired jurists, representatives from the judiciary, legal services providers, law schools, the Chamber of Commerce, State Bar, and business community.
Download the Committee Roster
Members
- Hon. Earl Johnson, Jr. (Ret.), Chair
- Hon. Laurie D. Zelon, Vice-chair, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Seven
- Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Legislative Director, ACLU California Center for Advocacy and Policy
- Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
- Ms. Erika Frank, General Counsel, California Chamber of Commerce
- Hon. Terry B. Friedman (Ret.)
- Ms. Pauline W. Gee, Attorney
- Ms. Luz E. Herrera, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Texas A&M School of Law
- Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
- Hon. James R. Lambden (Ret.)
- Ms. Shirley Sanematsu, Senior Health Attorney, Western Center on Law and Poverty
- Mr. John F. O'Toole, Attorney
- Ms. Clare Pastore, Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
- Mr. Thomas Smegal, Administrative Patent Judge, Patent Trial and Appeal Board, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff
- Ms. Bonnie Rose Hough, Principal Managing Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
- Mr. Don Will, Deputy Director, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
Judicial Council Staff to the Committee
- Ms. Laural Ayala, Administrative Coordinator, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
5 Year Shriver Report - June 2020
Shriver Report - First 6 Years - August 2017
- Short Summary of Findings of Final Report
- Preliminary report - January 31, 2016
Report Chapters (contained in the full report)
- Chapter on Housing Projects
- Chapter on Child Custody Projects
- Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project
Fact Sheets
Request for Applications to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2020–2023
The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding pilot projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more pilot projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs.
This project has had three grant cycles since 2011. In early 2012, 10 pilot projects were selected by the Judicial Council and began operation, 9 were selected in 2014, and 10 were selected in 2017. Under the terms of the legislation, the projects were authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, in light of the project's capacity and success. The third three-year period will end on September 30, 2020.
In September 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 330 (Gabriel; Stats. 2019, ch. 217). This bill amended the language of the Government Code to increase specified fees that fund the Shriver project from $10 to $25 per filing. The Judicial Council anticipates that this change will increase the amount of funds available to the program by approximately $11 million—to approximately $18 million per year. Because these amounts are estimates based on revenue projections, the Judicial Council may award amounts that are less than the full projection in the initial year and then consider increases to the grants in future years, staged implementation of new grants, or other steps to ensure sufficient funding for all awards.
Proposals may only be submitted by a qualified legal services project, as defined by subdivision (a) of §6213 of the Bus. & Prof. Code and their court partner.
Further details regarding the solicitation are set forth in Requests for Applications - Shriver 2020-2023 and related documents provided below.
Completed applications must be e-mailed to Bonnie Hough at Bonnie.Hough@jud.ca.gov by 2 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2020 or can be uploaded on a special website set up for the applications. This is ideal if your application is a very large file. See the instructions on uploading your application.
The completed application must include the signed Cover Page, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certificates and Attachments. This can be in one combined PDF or as separate documents. The file name(s) should contain your organization name.
NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
Additionally, an original and four hard copies of the completed application must also be mailed on or before February 28, 2020 to:
Judicial Council of California
Center for Families, Children & the Courts
Attn: Bonnie Hough
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
The answers to the questions regarding this application submitted on January 31, 2020 are posted in a link below.
A conference call to answer questions from potential bidders was announced in advance on this webpage and was held on January 16, 2020. The recording of the call is now posted and the notes from the call are in a link below.
Answers to Questions
Notes of Shriver Conference Call - January 16, 2020
Request for Applications - Shriver 2020-2023
Shriver Application Budget 2020-2023 (Updated 1/30/20)
Shriver Signature Page 2020-2023 (Updated 1/30/20)
Attachment 1 - Administrative Rules
Attachment 2 - JCC Generic Contracting Shriver
Attachment 3 - Proposer's Acceptance
Attachment 4 - General Certifications Forms
Attachment 5 - Darfur Certification
Attachment 6 - Iran Contracting
Attachment 7 - Payee Data Record Form
Attachment 8 - Unruh Civil Rights Act
List of organizations eligible to be lead legal services organization: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Access-to-Justice/Legal-Aid-Grants/2020-Grant-Recipients
Background
The Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457) provides that commencing in fiscal year 2011–2012, one or more pilot projects selected by the Judicial Council will be funded to provide legal representation to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. The pilot projects are operated by legal services nonprofit corporations working in collaboration with their local superior courts.
The purpose of the pilot projects is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases and thereby avoid undue risk of erroneous court decisions resulting from the nature and complexity of the law in the specific proceeding or the disparities between parties in legal representation, education, sophistication, language proficiency, and access to self-help or alternative dispute resolution services.
Selected legal services agencies provide representation to low-income Californians who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and need representation in one or more of the following areas:
- Housing-related matters;
- Domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders;
- Elder abuse;
- Guardianship of the person;
- Probate conservatorship; or
- Child custody actions by a parent seeking sole legal or physical custody of a child, particularly where the opposing side is represented.
To the extent practical, legal services agencies must make use of pro bono services from attorneys.
Selected court partners implement improved court procedures, training, case management and administration methods, and best practices to ensure that unrepresented parties in the proposed case types have meaningful access to court, to guard against the involuntary waiver of rights or the disposition of cases by default, and to encourage fair and expeditious voluntary dispute resolution consistent with principles of judicial neutrality.
The statute provides that “the participating projects shall be selected by a committee appointed by the Judicial Council with representation from key stakeholder groups including judicial officers, legal services providers, and others, as appropriate. The committee shall assess the applicants’ capacity for success, innovation and efficiency, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that the project would deliver quality representation in an effective manner that would meet critical needs in the community and address the needs of the court with regard to access to justice and calendar management, and the unique local unmet needs for representation in the community.”
The Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee was appointed by the Judicial Council to review applications and make recommendations about funding.
The Judicial Council conducted a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program. A preliminary report was submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on January 31, 2016. A final report was submitted August 2017 to the Legislature and Governor that showed improved outcomes for those who received legal services. Here is a short summary of findings of the report submitted to the Legislature.
Three chapters of the report are attached here. One reports on the housing projects, one on the child custody projects, and the other on the probate guardianship and conservatorship project. These chapters are contained in the full report.
March 26, 2020 Meeting (Closed with Open)
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Past Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee Meetings
The 15-member advisory committee is Chaired by Justice Earl Johnson, Jr. (Ret.), the committee includes sitting and retired jurists, representatives from the judiciary, legal services providers, law schools, the Chamber of Commerce, State Bar, and business community.
Download the Committee Roster
Members
- Hon. Earl Johnson, Jr. (Ret.), Chair
- Hon. Laurie D. Zelon, Vice-chair, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Seven
- Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Legislative Director, ACLU California Center for Advocacy and Policy
- Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
- Ms. Erika Frank, General Counsel, California Chamber of Commerce
- Hon. Terry B. Friedman (Ret.)
- Ms. Pauline W. Gee, Attorney
- Ms. Luz E. Herrera, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Texas A&M School of Law
- Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
- Hon. James R. Lambden (Ret.)
- Ms. Shirley Sanematsu, Senior Health Attorney, Western Center on Law and Poverty
- Mr. John F. O'Toole, Attorney
- Ms. Clare Pastore, Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
- Mr. Thomas Smegal, Administrative Patent Judge, Patent Trial and Appeal Board, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff
- Ms. Bonnie Rose Hough, Principal Managing Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
- Mr. Don Will, Deputy Director, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
Judicial Council Staff to the Committee
- Ms. Laural Ayala, Administrative Coordinator, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
5 Year Shriver Report - June 2020
Shriver Report - First 6 Years - August 2017
- Short Summary of Findings of Final Report
- Preliminary report - January 31, 2016
Report Chapters (contained in the full report)
- Chapter on Housing Projects
- Chapter on Child Custody Projects
- Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project
Fact Sheets
Request for Applications to Operate Pilot Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2020–2023
The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding pilot projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more pilot projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs.
This project has had three grant cycles since 2011. In early 2012, 10 pilot projects were selected by the Judicial Council and began operation, 9 were selected in 2014, and 10 were selected in 2017. Under the terms of the legislation, the projects were authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, in light of the project's capacity and success. The third three-year period will end on September 30, 2020.
In September 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 330 (Gabriel; Stats. 2019, ch. 217). This bill amended the language of the Government Code to increase specified fees that fund the Shriver project from $10 to $25 per filing. The Judicial Council anticipates that this change will increase the amount of funds available to the program by approximately $11 million—to approximately $18 million per year. Because these amounts are estimates based on revenue projections, the Judicial Council may award amounts that are less than the full projection in the initial year and then consider increases to the grants in future years, staged implementation of new grants, or other steps to ensure sufficient funding for all awards.
Proposals may only be submitted by a qualified legal services project, as defined by subdivision (a) of §6213 of the Bus. & Prof. Code and their court partner.
Further details regarding the solicitation are set forth in Requests for Applications - Shriver 2020-2023 and related documents provided below.
Completed applications must be e-mailed to Bonnie Hough at Bonnie.Hough@jud.ca.gov by 2 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2020 or can be uploaded on a special website set up for the applications. This is ideal if your application is a very large file. See the instructions on uploading your application.
The completed application must include the signed Cover Page, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certificates and Attachments. This can be in one combined PDF or as separate documents. The file name(s) should contain your organization name.
NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
Additionally, an original and four hard copies of the completed application must also be mailed on or before February 28, 2020 to:
Judicial Council of California
Center for Families, Children & the Courts
Attn: Bonnie Hough
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
The answers to the questions regarding this application submitted on January 31, 2020 are posted in a link below.
A conference call to answer questions from potential bidders was announced in advance on this webpage and was held on January 16, 2020. The recording of the call is now posted and the notes from the call are in a link below.
Answers to Questions
Notes of Shriver Conference Call - January 16, 2020
Request for Applications - Shriver 2020-2023
Shriver Application Budget 2020-2023 (Updated 1/30/20)
Shriver Signature Page 2020-2023 (Updated 1/30/20)
Attachment 1 - Administrative Rules
Attachment 2 - JCC Generic Contracting Shriver
Attachment 3 - Proposer's Acceptance
Attachment 4 - General Certifications Forms
Attachment 5 - Darfur Certification
Attachment 6 - Iran Contracting
Attachment 7 - Payee Data Record Form
Attachment 8 - Unruh Civil Rights Act
List of organizations eligible to be lead legal services organization: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Access-to-Justice/Legal-Aid-Grants/2020-Grant-Recipients
Background
The Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457) provides that commencing in fiscal year 2011–2012, one or more pilot projects selected by the Judicial Council will be funded to provide legal representation to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. The pilot projects are operated by legal services nonprofit corporations working in collaboration with their local superior courts.
The purpose of the pilot projects is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases and thereby avoid undue risk of erroneous court decisions resulting from the nature and complexity of the law in the specific proceeding or the disparities between parties in legal representation, education, sophistication, language proficiency, and access to self-help or alternative dispute resolution services.
Selected legal services agencies provide representation to low-income Californians who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and need representation in one or more of the following areas:
- Housing-related matters;
- Domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders;
- Elder abuse;
- Guardianship of the person;
- Probate conservatorship; or
- Child custody actions by a parent seeking sole legal or physical custody of a child, particularly where the opposing side is represented.
To the extent practical, legal services agencies must make use of pro bono services from attorneys.
Selected court partners implement improved court procedures, training, case management and administration methods, and best practices to ensure that unrepresented parties in the proposed case types have meaningful access to court, to guard against the involuntary waiver of rights or the disposition of cases by default, and to encourage fair and expeditious voluntary dispute resolution consistent with principles of judicial neutrality.
The statute provides that “the participating projects shall be selected by a committee appointed by the Judicial Council with representation from key stakeholder groups including judicial officers, legal services providers, and others, as appropriate. The committee shall assess the applicants’ capacity for success, innovation and efficiency, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that the project would deliver quality representation in an effective manner that would meet critical needs in the community and address the needs of the court with regard to access to justice and calendar management, and the unique local unmet needs for representation in the community.”
The Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee was appointed by the Judicial Council to review applications and make recommendations about funding.
The Judicial Council conducted a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program. A preliminary report was submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on January 31, 2016. A final report was submitted August 2017 to the Legislature and Governor that showed improved outcomes for those who received legal services. Here is a short summary of findings of the report submitted to the Legislature.
Three chapters of the report are attached here. One reports on the housing projects, one on the child custody projects, and the other on the probate guardianship and conservatorship project. These chapters are contained in the full report.
Contact Information
Center for Families, Children & the Courts
Operations & Programs
ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov