The Senate Ways and Means Committee released its proposed budget for FY21 today, Nov. 12. The $46 billion spending package includes an additional $5 million for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC).
"We are grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and the Senate Ways and Means Committee for fully funding MLAC’s $29 million budget request. As citizens of the commonwealth continue to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, we are thankful that our legislators understand the vital role civil legal aid plays in our society, especially in difficult times such as these," said Martin W. Healy, Massachusetts Bar Association chief legal counsel and chief operating officer.
The House is currently debating its FY21 budget, which also included $29 million in funding for MLAC. The Senate is expected to debate its budget next week. Massachusetts has been operating with a series of interim budgets since July 1, when the new fiscal year began.