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HB 568 in 2020, paused due to COVID-19, then re-enrolled in the 2021 session as HB 108. The
bill was passed on May 20, 2021 and amends the Code of Civil Procedure to require that courts
receiving an application for IFP must either grant the application, deny it and provide written
reasoning, or set the matter for hearing. Additionally, the bill stipulates that IFP litigants are
entitled to receive a certified copy of the judgment rendered regardless of whether court costs have
been paid. The LSLI will continue to review other statutes related to IFP to determine whether any
additional changes are needed.

Access to Justice Commission
The ATJ Commission brings together leadership from the LSBA, judiciary, pro bono
organizations, the LBF, and private bar to address policy-level issues related to the pursuit of
access to justice in Louisiana. to collaborate and address issues impacting their efforts to provide
access to legal services to low-income Louisianans. Detailed below are the group’s subcommittees
and projects, which address specific issue areas:

Building Bridges Committee, Chair Adrienne Wheeler
The Building Bridges Committee supports relationships between criminal and civil legal aid
communities to address legal barriers of people formerly incarcerated. Using a coordinated
approach, members and partners often with opposing perspectives and goals work together on
challenging issues. Stakeholders include public defenders, district attorney staff, private bar,
Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Family Service, social workers, case
managers, and civil legal aid providers. The Committee coordinates efforts to address systemic
issues in addition to ensuring the provision of legal services to people currently and formerly
incarcerated. The services provided reduce legal barriers to accessing housing, employment,
education, and transportation. This Committee works closely with the Statewide LA Prisoner
Reentry Initiative (LA-PRI)’s Legal Subcommittee, a program by the Louisiana Department of
Public Safety and Corrections, through which recommendations are presented to address the most
pressing issues people face upon release. Additionally, the Committee also works closely with
programs offering reentry legal services by assisting with volunteer attorney recruitment through
educational programming and CLE events.
Funding Committee, Chair Chris Ralston
The mission of the Funding Committee is to promote appropriate funding of the Louisiana Civil
Justice System. The focus is on state and federal funding issues.

State Appropriations

Past efforts of the ATJ Funding Committee have focused on a state appropriation for the
Louisiana Legal Services Programs. These efforts were successful for several years with
the state funding of $500,000 included in the Governor’s Executive Budget for the Legal

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