Office of Civil Legal Aid
RCW 2.53; RCW 13.34
The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is an independent judicial-branch agency that administers and ensures accountability for the Legislature’s investment in civil legal aid services for low-income persons throughout Washington state. State funded civil legal aid is a core component of the justice system, furthering the judicial branch’s constitutional obligation to fairly administer civil justice in all cases. State civil legal aid funding is used to help provide essential civil (non-criminal) legal assistance, advice, and representation to more than 25,000 low-income individuals each year with respect to civil legal problems that affect basic human needs, including personal and family safety and security; shelter preservation; mortgage foreclosure and homelessness prevention; consumer fraud, debt collection, garnishment, and bankruptcy; and access to health care, education, and other essential governmental services.
Pursuant to an interagency agreement with the Department of Commerce, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, OCLA administers a statewide, federally funded program to provide civil legal assistance to victims of crime on civil legal matters arising from their criminal victimization. OCLA’s activities are overseen by a bipartisan Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee established by RCW 2.53.010.
Pursuant to RCW 13.34.100(2)(6) and RCW 2.53.045, OCLA also contracts with private attorneys and public and private legal agencies to provide standards-based legal representation in dependency cases to children who remain legally free six months following termination of their parents’ legal rights.
Agency Mission
The mission of the Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is to work within the judicial branch to promote equity and justice for low-income Washington state residents and communities through the funding and oversight of effective, economical, and responsive civil legal aid services on matters that affect basic human needs, and to ensure accountability for state-appropriated funds dedicated to this purpose. Consistent with statutory directives, OCLA works to ensure effective, standards-based representation of legally free children in dependency cases.
| Request | 49,151,000 |
|---|---|
| Net change from current biennium | 13,830,000 Increase |
| Percent change from current biennium | 39.2% Increase |
Operating Budget: Summary
Appropriated Funds
| 2017-19 Appropriations | Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Estimated Balance | 2015-17 Actual | 2017-19 Estimated | 2019-21 Proposed | |
| General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local | 99,910 | ||||
| 33,434,000 | General Fund - Basic Account - State | 25,930,000 | 33,434,000 | 47,263,000 | |
| 1,463,000 | Judicial Stabilization Trust Acct - State | 1,427,487 | 1,463,000 | 1,464,000 | |
| 44,000 | Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State | 44,000 | 44,000 | ||
| 34,941,000 | Total Appropriated Funds | 27,457,397 | 34,941,000 | 48,771,000 | |
Non-Appropriated Funds
| 2017-19 Non-Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Balance | Non-Apropriated Funds | 2015-17 Actual | 2017-19 Estimated | 2019-21 Proposed |
| (380,000) | Foreclosure Fairness Account - Nonappropriated | 380,000 | 380,000 | ||
| (380,000) | Total Non-Appropriated Funds | 380,000 | 380,000 | ||
Operating Budget: Program Summary
| Program Title | Actual | Estimated | Proposed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Estimated | Estimated | Proposed | Proposed | |
| Annual Total | 14,157,934 | 15,276,194 | 6,040,391 | 22,784,000 | 26,367,000 |
Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent |
| 3,018,245 | 12.4% | (6,140,812) | (22.4%) | 27,834,415 | 130.6% |
Employment Summary
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 Actual | 2017-18 Estimated | 2018-19 Estimated | 2019-20 Proposed | 2020-21 Proposed | |
| FTE Staff Years | 2.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
