Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, May. 17, 2012
Senate Ways and Means releases FY13 budget proposal
The MBA remains fully engaged in advocating for funding important to the administration of justice.
Yesterday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its
$32.2 billion fiscal year 2013 budget proposal. Included in the
proposal was $561.8 million in funding for the Trial Court, $1.8
million more than the House budget. The Senate budget also included
full transferability for the newly appointed court
administrator.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation was
funded at $11 million, $3.5 million below MLAC's requested amount
necessary to restore critical legal services for low-income
citizens. Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), senate chair of
the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, is filing an amendment to add
$3.5 million to MLAC's budget.
The Committee for Public Counsel Services account was filed at
$162.4 million. The House funded CPCS at $162.2 million. Both
branches have refrained from further expanding the ratio of staff
counsel to assigned private counsel.
The Senate is set to begin debate on the budget proposal on
Wednesday, May 23. Click
here to view the budget.