This project will serve citizens of Seminole county that are sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics who have less than 2 years of experience and an annual income of less than $45,000. If you would like to volunteer your time by providing free assistance with advanced directives, living wills, heath care surrogate forms, durable power of attorney, and HIPAA authorization forms, please contact Pro-Bono Coordinator, Camryn Williams at camrynw@scbalas.com

Effective July 1, 2022, SB 898, otherwise known as Miya’s Law, creates additional measures to ensure tenant safety in their own homes. Landlords or licensees of transient and non-transient apartments must conduct background checks on prospective employees, maintain a log of each unit’s keys as well as establish procedure for key issuance, storage, and return. Additionally, tenants must be notified 24 hours in advance for non-emergency maintenance and repairs.

Effective June 27, 2022, HB 461, modified the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Student Service Requirements to allow students to count their paid work experience in lieu of volunteer hours. Students may now meet the 100 hours service requirement through volunteer hours specified in law or their after-school jobs. This creates a better opportunity for students of all socio-economic backgrounds to access higher education.

Effective July 1, 2022, HB1119, amends Florida Statute 752.011 by creating a presumption for maternal, paternal, or step grandparent visitation of a child. The presumption allows for a court to award a grandparent visitation with a grandchild in cases where one parent of a child is held criminally or civilly liable for the death of the other parent. This only applies to cases in which the grandparent is the parent of the grandchild’s deceased parent and may be declined if the court finds visitation is not in the child’s best interest.

In honor of Plant City, Florida’s strawberry industry, Strawberry Shortcake has been declared the official dessert of Florida.

For anyone in need, we have received a generous donation of women’s clothes and shoes, hair curlers as well as curling irons, children’s clothes, and gently used kitchenware such as mugs, pots, and pans. If you’re interested in these items, please call 407-834-1660 ext. 100 or email Abigail Stewart at abigails@scbalas.com to set up a time to come by the office.

Interested in learning more about the immigration process? We are proud to announce that on July 13^th at 1:30pm, we will be working with the Seminole State College Legal Studies, Holistic Student Support Program to hold a basic immigration overview seminar via Zoom. The presentation will be conducted by Vesna Bozic, the Regional Lead for Community Relations, Southeast Region of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services of the Department of Homeland Security. In order to register please contact, please contact Camryn Williams at camrynw@scbalas.com.

Individuals who have experienced violence at the hands of a loved one or stranger have a variety of choices when it comes to the protective orders they can request to ensure their safety. Join us on July 20^th at 1:30 pm via Zoom to learn from our very own Executive Director, Silvia McLain on the types of protective orders you can employ and the differences between them.Working with the Seminole State College Legal Studies, Holistic Student Support Program, we hope to educate at risk populations of their rights as well as provide the community with resources to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

If you are interested in joining our webinar, please contact Camryn Williams at camrynw@scbalas.com.

We provide free legal advice and counsel to survivors of domestic violence in Seminole County with family law matters including dissolution of marriage, paternity, and time-sharing issues. Our Attorneys seek to achieve just outcomes that improve the lives of families and children and to promote the prevention of domestic abuse through community education to alert at risk population as to their rights, best practices to secure their safety, and the resources available in the community to safeguard them.

If you would like an appointment to apply for services, place call (407) 834-1660 or email administrator@scbalas.com.

Don't let that arrest on your record prevent you from getting the job of your dreams. In partnership with Goodwill Industries, our office holds a workshop to learn from our experienced volunteer attorneys how to seal or expunge your record.

You may qualify if you had:

• Adjudication withheld or charges dropped
• AND never previously sealed or expunged your record

To check the list of disqualifying crimes, click here.

Upcoming Tax Free Holidays you don't want to miss!

• Children's books - May 14, 2022 to August 14, 2022
• Children's diapers, clothing, and shoes - July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
• This would include baby and toddler clothing primarily intended for children age five or younger as well as children’s diapers, including single-use diapers, reusable diapers, and reusable diaper inserts.
• Energy efficient appliances - July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
• Applies to certain ENERGY STAR appliances including refrigerator/freezer units selling for $3,000 or less, and water heaters, washers or dryers selling for $1,500 or less.
• Back to School supplies - July 25, 2022 to August 7, 2022
• Applies to clothing, footwear, and backpacks costing $100 or less, school supplies and learning aids costing $50 or less, and personal computers or computer-related accessories, including non-recreational software costing $1,500 or less.

It's not too late to make an impact in our community. We ask you to please join us in our efforts to maintain the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in Seminole County by donating your time and talents to help a disenfranchised person(s) with their legal needs or by providing an in lieu of service monetary donation to help support our legal program. Below is a link to our 2022 Pro Bono Registration form for your consideration. Click here to let us know how you plan to impact the Seminole County community. If you are unable to donate time, click here to give in lieu of service.

The Bureau of Victim Compensation's brochure provides useful information for those within our communities that have fallen victim to such crimes. The resources provided are:

1. Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-226-6667
2. Benefits Available
3. How to Apply
4. Qualification Guidelines for Applying
5. Information Need to Apply
6. Next Steps after a Claim is Submitted

To view the full brochure and get complete information please click here.

Also, to view a list of other resources available to victims of crime please click here.

Upcoming Events

July 6, 2022 - In-Person Sealing and Expungement Workshop

July 13,2022 -Basic Immigration Overview Presentation

July 20, 2022 - Virtual Sealing and Expungement Workshop

July 20, 2022 - Injunction Presentation

July 21, 2022 - Veteran's Legal Advice Clinic