June 2016
LAAC In Action
Happy Pride Month!
LAAC Member Story
 
LAAC celebrates diversity and inclusion year-round, and we, along with our allies are saddened by the ongoing attacks against LGBTQ individuals, whether in Orlando or closer to home. For this year's Pride, we want to profile the amazing work that  Justice in Aging  has done for older LGBTQ individuals.    

Hundreds of low-income married LGBTQ individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will no longer have to worry about the Social Security Administration (SSA) going after them for thousands of dollars they shouldn't owe and can't afford to pay.
 
SSA attempted to recoup payments that were the result of the agency's failure to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples for months, and sometimes years, after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) back in 2013. Last year Justice in Aging filed a class action lawsuit that argued that, since the payments resulted from the agency's own discriminatory policy - and not the actions of the recipients - it was unfair and unjust for the agency to seek to recover them now.
 
And justice prevailed! In April, SSA changed its policy and announced that it would presume that all affected individuals had requested a waiver, that they were without fault, and that recoupment would be "against equity and good conscience"-just as Justice in Aging argued in the lawsuit. Read more here.
Mark Your Calendars for These  Upcoming Trainings: 

Tell Us YOUR Trainings!

You can now add your trainings to LAAC's public Google Calendar by sharing your event with [email protected]. Once the event is accepted, it will appear on our website's
trainings calendar. You can also add your social events, such as legal aid lunches and law student happy hours. Stay up to date on online and in-person trainings, and share your own events with our large community!

Spring 2016 Armchair Trainings: Seniors Series
 
Tuesday, June 28 from noon to 1 p.m.
Presenter:
Jaime Levine, 
Elder Law & Advocacy
1 hour of general MCLE credit.

Wednesday, June 29 from noon to 1 p.m.
Presenter:
Penelope Hommel, 
The Center for Social Gerontology
1 hour of general MCLE credit. 

2016 Armchair Trainings: Disability Rights Law Webinar Series
Wednesday, July 20 from noon to 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Antionette Dozier, 
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Linda Kilb, 
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

1 hour of general MCLE credit.  Register now!
Monday, September 26 from noon to 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Antoinette Dozier, 
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Navneet Grewal, 
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Deborah Thrope, 
National Housing Law Project
1 hour of general MCLE credit.  Register now!
  
STAY TUNED for the Summer '16 Community Development Series 
Introducing LAAC's first "Community Development" series! This summer we will host a series of webinars featuring LAAC-member organizations that have received funding from the Bank of America and Citibank bank grants for community redevelopment and foreclosure prevention programs all over California.
 

More of the webinar trainings are announced regularly.  
And the Family Law Award goes to... 
 
Family Law Award recipient Salvador Reynoso (left) with his nominator, E. Daniel Bors (right)
On June 14, LAAC joined the Judicial Council in celebrating this year's Family
 Law Award honorees during the Family Law/Self-Help Conference in San Francisco.

Direct Services: 
Lucia Reyes, Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center

Pro Bono:
Commissioner Richard G. Vogl (Ret.), Legal Aid Society of Orange County

Self-Help Center Provider: 
Salvador Reynoso, Superior Court of California, County of Orange Self-Help Centers

Each year, LAAC recognizes family law advocates for their outstanding dedication and commitment to legal services for low-income Californians in three categories. Congratulations to this year's honorees!
Congratulations to LAAC's 2016 Dan Bradley Fellow - Armando Valles!

This year's Dan Bradley Fellow, Armando Valles, is an advocate for justice in rural California. He was born and raised in Coachella Valley, California, within a rural migrant farm worker community. Mr. Valles is now a 1L law student at the California Desert Trial Academy College of the Law (CDTA) in Indio, CA. With the Dan Bradley Award, Mr. Valles was able to accept a summer internship position with California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) in their LGBTQ program. Mr. Valles hopes to remain in his hometown, in rural California, and continue working as an advocate and in legal aid after graduation. 

Legislative Updates

LAAC is anxiously awaiting the Governor's signature on the FY1617 California budget.  Currently, and assuming no veto, the budget plan includes: 
  • $5 million in one-time increase for Equal Access Fund (Thank you to everyone who supported this major advocacy effort!)
  • $8-9 million per year in filing fees in support of the Shriver Pilot Projects (We worked with many others to successfully pass an elimination of the 2017 sunset of those fees.)
  • SB 1257 (Block) Pro Bono
  • AB 2878 (Judiciary) State Bar Dues
  • SB 881 (Hertzberg) Driver License Suspension
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