This bill, known as the Fair Legal Access Grants Act, proposes to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a new grant program. The Attorney General would be authorized to award grants to States, local governments, and Tribal Governments to provide essential legal resources and representation for individuals seeking extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs). Grant funds could be used to ensure petitioners have access to counsel, interpretation, and translation services, and to establish legal resource centers offering information in multiple languages. They would also support hiring personnel to process and represent petitioners, awarding subgrants to nonprofit legal aid organizations, and training professionals on the differences between ERPOs and domestic violence protection orders. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2034 to fund these initiatives. Additionally, it clarifies that Federal courts cannot exercise jurisdiction over a cause of action related to an ERPO petition unless it was false or intentionally harassing.
This bill, known as the Fair Legal Access Grants Act, proposes to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a new grant program. The Attorney General would be authorized to award grants to States, local governments, and Tribal Governments to provide essential legal resources and representation for individuals seeking extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs). Grant funds could be used to ensure petitioners have access to counsel, interpretation, and translation services, and to establish legal resource centers offering information in multiple languages. They would also support hiring personnel to process and represent petitioners, awarding subgrants to nonprofit legal aid organizations, and training professionals on the differences between ERPOs and domestic violence protection orders. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2034 to fund these initiatives. Additionally, it clarifies that Federal courts cannot exercise jurisdiction over a cause of action related to an ERPO petition unless it was false or intentionally harassing.