Legal Services Corporation Act Amendments of 1985

(Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 99-448)

Legal Services Corporation Act Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to provide compensation to the Corporation's Board of Directors (the Board) only for attendance at Board meetings and necessary related travel expenses.

Authorizes the Corporation to issue rules, regulations, guidelines, and instructions to interpret the provisions under this Act. Grants the Corporation authority to insure compliance of recipients, other grantees and contractors, and their respective employees with the Act. Provides for sanctions, including immediate suspension of financial assistance, suspension of employees, and reduction or termination of assistance or employment. Requires the Corporation to monitor and evaluate recipients and other grantees and contractors in order to insure compliance. Requires the Corporation to investigate alleged violations of this Act or the rules, regulations, guidelines, or instructions issued under this Act within 30 days after a request for such an investigation is made.

Extends existing lobbying restrictions to contractors and grantees, as well as recipients. Permits legislative representation of an eligible client concerning particular legislation directly affecting such client.

Requires the project director of a recipient of Corporation funding to approve any allowable use of funds for communications with government entities.

Allows class action suits against government entities where: (1) the class relief sought is for the primary benefit of eligible clients; and (2) the government policy or practice in question is unlikely to change otherwise and will continue to affect eligible clients adversely.

Prohibits: (1) reimbursement to specified Board personnel for membership in private clubs; and (2) severance pay exceeding the amounts paid Federal employees for comparable service.

Directs the Corporation to: (1) require recipients to attempt out-of-court resolution of disputes; (2) provide funds each fiscal year with which to compensate private attorneys who render legal services to eligible clients; (3) maintain a system to deliver legal services to eligible clients in each geographical service area; (4) provide for legal assistance to Native Americans and migrant farmworkers; and (5) provide at the State and national level appropriate support services, including specialized legal assistance, training, and technical assistance.

Prohibits the use of Corporation funds for: (1) legal proceedings or assistance by any attorney relating to abortion unless it is necessary to save the mother's life; or (2) compelling an individual or institution to perform an abortion. Allows representation of aliens who are lawfully present in the United States under specified circumstances.

Revises the criteria for appointments to the governing bodies of recipient organizations. Prohibits any attorney serving on such a board from receiving compensation from a recipient.

Requires the Corporation to maintain all applications and supporting information for positions with the Corporation for a period of three years after an application is received.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988. Establishes a formula for the allocation of such funds.

Allows the Corporation to make major changes in policy affecting the funding of recipients or other grantees or contractors if the Corporation first submits to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report containing a detailed description of, and a plan and justification for, the proposed policy change. Prohibits any policy change from being adopted by the Board until after it has been published in the Federal Register and an opportunity for notice and comment on the change has been given. Provides that any proposed change shall be based on results of: (1) a study; (2) a public hearing; and (3) public meetings of the Board.

Allows the Corporation to bring an action in the appropriate district court to compel: (1) specific performance of an agreement between the Corporation and any recipient for the provision of legal services under this Act; and (2) compliance by a recipient with the provisions, rules, regulations, or guidelines of this Act.