FY12 State Budget

The MBA continues to aggressively fight efforts to dismantle the existing private defense system in Massachusetts. On May 25, during the Massachusetts Senate's floor consideration of the FY12 State Budget, the Senate adopted an amendment regarding the current statewide bar advocate indigent defense program. The amendment was filed in response to the Senate Ways and Means recommendation which called for a 50/50 split between public and private bar participation in the program. The amendment reduced the public attorney participation to a 30 percent level to be achieved by the end of fiscal year 2012.

Also, the Senate rejected last night a number of amendments that would have added funds to the Trial Court's budget. However, the Senate added money back into the Mass. Legal Assistance Corp budget line item to provide level funding of 9.5 million dollars. After this week's Senate approval of the budget, deliberations will soon move on to a joint House and Senate Conference Committee to resolve differences before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2011.

In addition, the MBA also secured a seat on a proposed legislative study commission to assess the impact of these bar advocate changes on local community businesses.

Thank you for contacting your local legislators in response to the MBA's Legislative Alerts during this daunting budget process.

For more information, call or e-mail MBA Legislative Activities Manager Lee Constantine at (617) 338-0692 or [e-mail lconstantine].