1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to judiciary; appropriating money for legal services for new Americans.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; LEGAL SERVICES FOR NEW AMERICANS.
 1.5 	$2,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from 
1.6 	the general fund to improve access to civil legal services for persons to obtain, maintain, 
1.7 	or improve their immigration legal status or obtain citizenship. The appropriations must be 
1.8 	distributed under Minnesota Statutes, section 480.242, to legal services programs described 
1.9 	in Minnesota Statutes, section 480.242, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), that are most qualified 
1.10 	to offer services under this paragraph due to substantive expertise, geographic reach, 
1.11 	experience working with immigrants, and other factors deemed relevant by the Legal Services 
1.12 	Advisory Committee. Any unencumbered balance remaining in the first year does not cancel 
1.13 	and is available in the second year.