Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a not-for-profit service agreement with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to support freelance workers’ access to community legal resources when facing nonpayment scenarios.
The mission of the Legal Aid Society of Columbus is to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to combat unfairness and injustice and to help people rise out of poverty. In addition to providing numerous self-help resources, community members are able to apply for direct help with Legal Aid’s team of lawyers.
This agreement will support Legal Aid in dedicating staff time directly to the needs of freelancer workers who are facing nonpayment from a hiring party, as referred to Legal Aid from the City of Columbus’ Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Commission. This agreement will bolster the Columbus community in seeking to address matters of failure-to-pay, especially for freelance workers who are vulnerable to this type of exploitative, illegal behavior.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a not-for-profit service agreement with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to support legal resources for freelance workers facing nonpayment; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 1016-2023 on May 1, 2023 to approve an amendment to city code that offers additional protections to freelancer workers and established a complaint process regarding the violation of these protections through the Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Wage Theft Prevention and Enforcement Commission, upon issuing a written decision finding a violation of Chapter 2337 of city code which establishes protections for freelance workers, may direct the impacted freelancer worker to community legal resources; and
WHEREAS, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus seeks to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to combat unfairness and injustice to help people rise out of poverty, including for freelance workers facing nonpayment; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an agreement with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of access to legal resources for freelance workers, in an amount of up to $10,000.00; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service agreement with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus in an amount of up to $10,000.00 for the purpose of supporting access to community legal resources for freelance workers in Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,000.00 in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to the Department of Finance and Management per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $10,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is authorized under the not-for-profit contracting provisions of Section 329 of Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.