| Formal Name: | Legal Education for Public Service and Rural Practice Loan Repayment Assistance Board. |
| Contact Person: | Jeffery A. Pickens, Chief Counsel; Rita Wesely, Admin AsstFiscal Officer, 140 North 8th Street, Suite 270, Lincoln, Nebr., 68508; (402) 471-8088. |
| Purpose: | To provide educational loan repayment assistance to lawyers to encourage them to seek employment in non-profit public legal service or in legal profession shortage areas in Nebraska. |
| How Many Affectable: | Each lawyer served by this program provided qualifying legal services to Nebraska residents. |
| How Many Served: | FY2016-17: 33; FY2017-18: 0; FY2018-19: 40; FY2019-20: 38; and FY2020-21: pending. Some attorneys refused their awards and some became ineligible. One attorney breached his agreement and was sued. |
| Year Created: | 2008. |
| Year Active: | 2008. The program was not funded until 2014. Awards were paid to recipients beginning in December of 2014. |
| Sunset Date: | NA. |
| Authorization Citation: | Neb. Rev. Stat. 7-201-210; 29-3927. |
| Parent Agency: | Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy. |
| Number Of Members: | 7 |
| Who Appoints: | The members are enumerated by statute Neb. Rev. Stat. 7-204. |
| Legislative Approval: | NA. |
| Qualifications Of Members: | Established by the Legislature and found at 7-204. |
| Per Diem: | No. |
| Expense Reimbursement: | Yes, if requested. |
| Term Length: | NA. |
| Terms Rotate or Expire At Once: |
| Required FY 17-18: | 1 |
| Held FY 17-18: | 0-No funding; no reason to meet. |
| Required FY 18-19: | 1 |
| Held FY 18-19: | 2 |
| Required FY 19-20: | 1 |
| Held FY 19-20: | 2 |
| Support Staff: | Yes-1. |
| Shared or Separate: | NA. |
| FY 17-18 Budget: | $125,000. |
| FY 18-19 Budget: | $150,000. |
| FY 19-20 Budget: | $150,000-appropriation existed but there was no funding. The Board distributed most of the balance of the fund. |
| Other Funding Sources: | None. |
| Spending Authority: | The Commission approves all allocation of spending and fiscal duties related to the Legal Education for Public Service and Rural Practice Loan Repayment Assistance Fund. |
| Since July 1, 2016: | The Board has met to review, edit, and approve the application for qualifying Nebraska attorneys to seek loan repayment assistance. The Board also met to review received applications and make recommendations to the Commission. |