(30 ILCS 765/10) (from Ch. 5, par. 2050-10)
Sec. 10.
Definitions.
For the purposes of this Act:
"Foundation" means the Illinois Equal Justice
Foundation, a
not-for-profit corporation created by the Illinois State Bar Association and
the Chicago Bar Association.
"Legal information center" means a center in a judicial
circuit of this State operated by a not-for-profit corporation that
is tax exempt from the payment of federal taxes under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that serves as an information center
for persons considering use of the judicial system
in that judicial circuit. Information available at each legal
information center may include, but not be limited to,
information about the organization of the court system, applicable
court procedures, how to obtain legal representation, alternatives
to the court system such as mediation or social services, the
applicable substantive law, self-help packets explaining the court
procedures and applicable law in a particular substantive area, and
available self-help assistance desks.
"Regional legal services hotline" means a
program in this State operated by a not-for-profit corporation that
is tax exempt from the payment of federal taxes under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that (i) provides assistance
to legal information centers and this State's residents, and supplements legal
information
centers by providing information to legal information centers and this State's
residents that includes, but is not limited
to, information about the organization of the court system,
applicable court procedures, how to obtain legal representation,
alternatives to the court system such as mediation or social
services, the applicable substantive law, self-help packets
explaining the court procedures and applicable law in a particular
substantive area, and available self-help assistance desks and (ii)
coordinates and provides assistance to civil legal services
providers operating in this State by providing coordinated intake
and referral services.
"Self-help assistance desk" means a program operated by a not-for-profit
corporation that is tax exempt from the payment of
federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
and that provides legal information and advice about a particular
substantive area of the law to litigants or potential litigants in
non-criminal or traffic matters who are unable to
obtain or do not have legal representation for a dispute involving that
substantive area of the law.
"Dispute resolution center" means a not-for-profit
organization that is exempt from the payment of federal taxes
pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and
that is organized to provide mediation services at no charge to
disputants who agree to use its services. Disputes handled by
a dispute resolution center may include, but not be limited to,
disputes referred from the court system.
"Mediation" means a voluntary process in which an impartial
mediator actively assists disputants in identifying and clarifying
issues of concern and in designing and agreeing to solutions for
those issues.
"Mediator" means a person who has received at least 30 hours
of training in the areas of negotiation, nonverbal communication,
agreement writing, neutrality, and ethics.
"Civil legal services" means legal representation or advice in
non-criminal matters provided to eligible clients.
"Civil legal services provider" means a not-for-profit
corporation that (i) is exempt from the payment of federal income tax pursuant
to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
(ii) is established for the
purpose of providing legal services that include civil legal
services, and (iii) either (A) employs 4 or more full-time attorneys who are
licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and who directly
provide civil legal services or (B) provides civil legal services
through an organized panel of pro bono attorneys.
"Eligible client" means an individual, not a business entity,
who is involved in a non-criminal or traffic matter,
who has been found
financially eligible for civil legal services by a civil legal
services provider, and who has an annual income that does not
exceed 150% of the prevailing poverty guidelines issued by the
United States Department of Health and Human Services.
"Pro bono attorney" means an attorney who is self-employed, or
employed by an entity other than a civil legal services provider,
and who represents eligible clients without charge under the
auspices of a civil legal services provider.
"Recipient" means a legal information center, regional legal
services hotline, self-help assistance desk, dispute resolution
center, or qualified civil legal services provider receiving moneys
under this Act.
"Qualified civil legal services provider" means a civil legal services
provider that (i) makes
financial eligibility determinations before providing civil legal services;
(ii) has demonstrated its commitment to the provision of high quality civil
legal services to clients and has operated for at least 2 years; and (iii)
received and expended cash funds in Illinois in the previous fiscal year in the
amount of at least $200,000 for the provision of civil legal services.
(Source: P.A. 91-584, eff. 1-1-00.)
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