State funding for legal aid.

Caption: GOV. JEB BUSH has signed the Civil Legal Justice Act and the appropriations bill to make state funding for legal aid programs a reality. Now. $2 million is available for a pilot program to provide civil legal assistance in the First, Fourth, Ninth, 12th, 13th, 17th, and 20th judicial circuits. It marks the success of outgoing. President Terry Russell's top legislative priority this year: getting the state to help fund unmet legal needs of poor residents. And perhaps more significantly, it's the first time Florida has provided money for civil legal aid programs. Until now Florida was one of only 11 states that did not provide state monies for legal aid. The money was appropriated to the Department of Community Affairs, which is mandated to come up with a contract, most...