SB348 Becomes Act 475

The Commission’s legislative effort this session ended in success for Arkansas's two legal aid organizations and the low-income Arkansans they serve. The 87th General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of SB348, which was signed into law as Act 475 on March 13, 2009.

With its passage, SB348 will help fund the work of providing more low-income Arkansans with the legal help that they couldn’t otherwise afford. It does this by raising the uniform circuit court filing fee by $10.

SB348 would not have passed without the hard work of many people. The Commission thanks:

Senator Robert Thompson for introducing the legislation and managing it through the Senate Judiciary Committee and full Senate. He also presented the bill to the House Judiciary Committee.

Representative Steve Harrelson for co-sponsoring the bill, ushering it through the House Judiciary Committee, which he chaired, and presenting it eloquently on the House floor.

Will Bond, this year term-limited from the House, for identifying the filing fee option and for too-many-to-count contacts with various political leaders over the course of almost a year -- beginning with the Governor’s office last summer.

Prof. Charles Goldner for always being there, talking to the right people at the right times, and keeping the staff poised but not pouncing.

Nate Coulter for those great email messages and calls to House members which secured much support of the bill.

Bill Waddell for his calls and contacts to House members as he worked on behalf of the bill.

Bill Brown, Jean Carter, Zina Frazier, Justice Annabelle Imber, Susie Pointer, Lee Richardson, George Shelton, and Judge Jim Spears for speaking with various legislators about poverty and access to justice in Arkansas.

Ron Lanoue, Chad Owens, and Vince Morris for providing organizational and administrative support during this campaign.

To the Commission’s friends, colleagues, and all those working for legal aid everyday to expand access to justice. Thank you for calling and writing your legislators and for encouraging others to do the same.

Most importantly, we thank YOU, THE LEGISLATORS who voted to fund access to justice in Arkansas. To show our appreciation, we will use this website to keep you informed about how Act 475 helps the low-income Arkansans in your districts.  With this additional funding, the two legal aid organizations -- Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas -- will be able to help more families with their civil legal needs.

Our Mission 
Encouraging Arkansas Leaders to Uphold Equal Justice