Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expense of $86,000 for fiscal year 2015 within the Franklin County Municipal Court's fund for Assisted Civil Self Help - Indigent. The Franklin County Municipal Court Assisted Civil Self-Help Center will begin operating sometime in August or September of 2015. The program will provide information about the court system and non-legal assistance to civil litigants qualifying as indigent and appearing pro se before the Court.
To support the program, the Franklin County Municipal Court instituted a special project cost as authorized by Ohio Revised Code, ยง 1901.26(B)(1). The project cost is a $1.00 charge for all civil, traffic, and criminal cases.
Funds are to be used for the Franklin County Municipal Court to contract with the Moritz College of Law for services of an attorney to staff and provide services at the Help Center.
Contract Compliance Number: Moritz College of Law (Ohio State University) 316025986 expires 4/10/15
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $86,000 for 2015 from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges assisted civil self-help fund; and to authorize the Administrative and Presiding Judge to enter into contract with the Moritz College of Law; and to declare an emergency. ($86,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, an appropriation of these funds is necessary in order to start the Help Center; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Administrative and Presiding Judge to enter into this contract with Moritz College of Law to provide service for the Help Center; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate funds and enter into said contract with Moritz College of Law to continue Help Center services, and for the preservation of the public health, peace, safety, and welfare; now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the sum of $86,000 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the special revenue fund, fund 226, subfund 005, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purposes during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, department number 2501, oca code 226005, as follows: object level 1 - 03, $86,000 OL3 3336.
SECTION 2. That the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Moritz College of Law for the provision of Help Center services.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $86,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized from the Franklin County Municipal Court, department 2501, fund number 226 subfund 005; oca code 226005, object level 1 - 03, object level 3 - 3336, to pay the costs thereof.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, this is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.