BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1865 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 2, 2012 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 1865 (Alejo) - As Amended: April 18, 2012 Policy Committee: JudiciaryVote:10-0 (Consent) Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill requires the mandatory court notice sent to each defendant in an unlawful detainer action (eviction case) to also contain the name and telephone number of one or more nonprofit bar associations, if available, that provides legal services to persons in the court where the action is filed and that is duly authorized by the State Bar as a lawyer referral service. FISCAL EFFECT Minor statewide General Fund costs (less than $10,000) for courts in each of the 58 counties to modify revise the court notice to include qualifying lawyer referral services. COMMENTS Background and Purpose . Current law requires the court notice sent to tenants facing eviction to provide the name and phone number of the county bar association, as well as the name and number of offices or legal service projects providing services to low-income persons in the county where the action was filed. This latter requirement ensures that the notice provide the contact information for at least one legal services provider serving persons in that area other than the county bar association. This bill, sponsored by the Conference of California Bar Associations, requires the court notice to also contain the name and telephone number of one or more nonprofit bar associations also serving in the area. The author contends that providing contact information regarding nonprofit bar associations, AB 1865 Page 2 authorized by the State Bar as a lawyer referral service, will provide additional information to tenants seeking legal counsel by about resources available to them. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081