For Immediate Release
SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed legislation by Senator Josh Becker today to improve access to civil justice by updating the eligibility criteria for low-income Californians who seek a waiver of filing fees and other costs associated with litigation.
“SB 355 removes barriers that keep low-income Californians from accessing justice,” Senator Becker said of the legislation that was inspired by Community Legal Services East Palo Alto and is supported by two dozen other legal aid and advocacy organizations.
“By making sure the people who should qualify for a fee waiver, can qualify when they initially apply, we will support Californians in need and save valuable judicial resources currently spent adjudicating these requests,” the senator said.
The current criteria for automatically qualifying for civil court fee waivers are tied to the federal poverty level, which does not accurately reflect the true cost of living for California residents. SB 355 would update eligibility criteria by expanding the list of public benefits that automatically qualify for a fee waiver and by using income thresholds that reflect the cost of living in the state.
The vote by the Assembly Judiciary Committee sends SB 355 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal consideration.
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Media Contact: Leslie Guevarra, leslie.guevarra@sen.ca.gov, 415-298-3404