A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the north carolina state bar to be used for the provision of legal services to low‑income homeowners in north carolina in order to help prevent foreclosure and home loss and preserve home equity.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina State Bar the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to provide civil legal services for indigents and to make grants to North Carolina legal service providers to help prevent foreclosure and home loss and preserve home equity among low‑income consumers.
SECTION 1.(b)  The funds and grants authorized by this section shall be made available to Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, Pisgah Legal Services, the Land Loss Prevention Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and the Financial Protection Law Center for the provision of legal assistance to low‑income consumers in cases involving predatory mortgage lending, mortgage broker and loan services abuses, foreclosure defense, and other legal issues that relate to helping low‑income consumers avoid foreclosure, home loss, and preserve home equity.
SECTION 1.(c)  The funds appropriated in this section shall be recurring funds.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.