SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL - Record No: CB 119260

• Record No: CB 119260
• Version: 1
• Council Bill No: CB 119260
• Type: Ordinance (Ord)
• Status: Passed
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: City Clerk
• On agenda: 5/29/2018
• Ordinance No: Ord 125583
• Title: AN ORDINANCE related to civil legal aid services; authorizing an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for Public Defense Services with King County, previously authorized under Ordinance 125411, to carry out a program for civil legal services for indigent clients according to the terms of Resolution 31802.
• Sponsors: Lisa Herbold
• Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Central Staff memo (added 5/22/18), 3. Signed Ordinance 125583, 4. Affidavit of Publication

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/1/2018	1	City Clerk	attested by City Clerk
6/1/2018	1	Mayor	returned
6/1/2018	1	Mayor	Signed
5/30/2018	1	City Clerk	submitted for Mayor's signature
5/29/2018	1	City Council	passed	Pass
5/22/2018	1	Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee	pass	Pass
5/21/2018	1	City Council	referred
5/17/2018	1	Council President's Office	sent for review
5/15/2018	1	City Clerk	sent for review
5/15/2018	1	Mayor	Mayor's leg transmitted to Council

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE related to civil legal aid services; authorizing an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for Public Defense Services with King County, previously authorized under Ordinance 125411, to carry out a program for civil legal services for indigent clients according to the terms of Resolution 31802.
body
WHEREAS, civil legal aid has been a critical means for vulnerable populations in safeguarding their basic legal rights, navigating the intricacies of the justice system, and avoiding unanticipated collateral consequences to benefits, employment, housing, and other impacts to quality of life; and
WHEREAS, clients and public defenders may not fully understand the civil consequences of criminal convictions and plea agreements on housing, child and family issues, licensure, employment, public benefits, and other issues; and
WHEREAS, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 2.53.005) states that "[t]he provision of civil legal aid services to indigent persons is an important administration of civil and criminal justice"; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle City Council appropriated civil legal aid funding for the King County Department of Public Defense (KC DPD) to hire civil legal aid attorneys tasked with providing civil legal advice in plea agreements to avoid collateral consequences; and
WHEREAS, the KC DPD civil legal aid attorneys provided civil legal advice for 297 clients since July 2017 and have successfully advised public defenders and clients in pursuing better outcomes involving collateral consequences including, but not limited to, proper enforcement of the Fair Change Employment Ordinance, preservation of Social Security benefits, eviction prevention, management of legal financial obligations, obtaining protective orders against abusers, and education for non-citizens on legal rights; and
WHEREAS, King County (County) operates and maintains a Department of Public Defenses (KC-DPD)...