25-3008.

Grant recipients; requirements; application; audit.

(1) The Commission on Public Advocacy shall establish guidelines for submission of applications for grants to provide civil legal services to eligible low-income persons. To be eligible for a grant under this section, a civil legal services provider shall:

(a) Be a nonprofit organization chartered in Nebraska;

(b) Employ or contract with attorneys admitted to practice before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the United States District Courts;

(c) Have offices located throughout the state;

(d) Have as its principal purpose and mission the delivery of civil legal services to eligible low-income persons who are residents of Nebraska;

(e) Distribute its resources equitably throughout the state;

(f) Be a recipient of financial assistance for the delivery of civil legal services from the Legal Services Corporation established by the federal Legal Services Corporation Act, 42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.; and

(g) Certify that any grant funds received pursuant to this section will be used to supplement any existing funds used by the applicant and that such funds will not replace other funds appropriated or awarded by a state agency to provide civil legal services to any eligible low-income person.

(2) A civil legal services provider seeking a grant under this section shall file an application with the commission on forms provided by the commission. The application shall include a place for the provider to certify to the commission that it will provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons upon receipt of a grant under this section.

(3) The commission shall review the applications and determine which civil legal services providers shall receive grants under this section and the amount of the grants. Grant recipients shall use the grant funds to provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons.

(4) An independent certified public accountant shall annually audit the books and accounts of each grant recipient. The grant recipients shall provide the results of such audit to the commission.