article: SECTION 1. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR FINANCIALLY NEEDY VETERANS IN CONNECTION WITH COURT OF VETERANS APPEALS PROCEEDINGS. (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter III of chapter 72 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 7287. Legal assistance for certain veterans in Court proceedings; use of funds for assistance ``(a)(1) The Court may, in accordance with this section, provide funds (in advance or by way of reimbursement) to nonprofit organizations, under such terms and conditions consistent with this section as the Court considers appropriate, in order to permit such organizations to provide financial assistance by grant or contract to such legal assistance entities as the organizations consider appropriate for purposes of permitting such entities to carry out programs described in subsection (b). ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Court determines that there exists no nonprofit organization that would be an appropriate recipient of funds under this section for the purposes referred to in paragraph (1) and that it is consistent with the mission of the Court, the Court may provide financial assistance, by grant or contract, directly to such legal assistance entities as the Court considers appropriate for purposes of permitting such entities to carry out programs described in subsection (b). ``(b)(1) A program referred to in subsection (a) is any program under which a legal assistance entity utilizes financial assistance under this section to provide assistance or carry out activities (including assistance, services, or activities referred to in paragraph (3)) in order to ensure that individuals described in paragraph (2) receive, without charge, legal assistance in connection with decisions to which section 7252(a) of this title may apply or with other proceedings before the Court. ``(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is any veteran or other person who-- ``(A) is or seeks to be a party to an action before the Court; and ``(B) cannot, as determined by the Court or the entity concerned, afford the costs of legal advice and representation in connection with that action. ``(3) Assistance, services, and activities under a program described in this subsection may include the following for individuals described in paragraph (2) in connection with proceedings before the Court: ``(A) Financial assistance to defray the expenses of legal advice or representation (other than payment of attorney fees) by attorneys, clinical law programs of law schools, and veterans service organizations. ``(B) Case screening and referral services for purposes of referring cases to pro bono attorneys and such programs and organizations. ``(C) Education and training of attorneys and other legal personnel who may appear before the Court by attorneys and such programs and organizations. ``(D) Encouragement and facilitation of the pro bono representation by attorneys and such programs and organizations. ``(4) A legal assistance entity that receives financial assistance described in subsection (a) to carry out a program under this subsection shall make such contributions (including in-kind contributions) to the program as the nonprofit organization or the Court, as the case may be, shall specify when providing the assistance. ``(5) A legal assistance entity that receives financial assistance under subsection (a) to carry out a program described in this subsection may not require or request the payment of a charge or fee in connection with the program by or on behalf of any individual described in paragraph (2). ``(c)(1) The Court may, out of the funds appropriated to the Court for such purpose, provide funds to a nonprofit organization described in subsection (a)(1), in advance or by way of reimbursement, to cover some or all of the administrative costs of the organization in providing financial assistance to legal assistance entities carrying out programs described in subsection (b). ``(2) Funds shall be provided under this subsection pursuant to a written agreement entered into by the Court and the nonprofit organization receiving the funds. ``(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a nonprofit organization may-- ``(1) accept funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, from the Court under subsection (a)(1) in order to provide the financial assistance referred to in that subsection; ``(2) provide financial assistance by grant or contract to legal assistance entities under this section for purposes of permitting such entities to carry out programs described in subsection (b); ``(3) administer any such grant or contract; and ``(4) accept funds, in advance or by way of reimbursement, from the Court under subsection (c) in order to cover the administrative costs referred to in that subsection. ``(e)(1) Not later than February 1 each year, the Court shall submit to Congress a report on the funds and financial assistance provided under this section during the preceding fiscal year. Based on the data provided the Court by entities receiving such funds and assistance, each report shall-- ``(A) set forth the amount, if any, of funds provided to nonprofit organizations under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) during the fiscal year covered by the report; ``(B) set forth the amount, if any, of financial assistance provided to legal assistance entities pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) or under paragraph (2) of that subsection during that fiscal year; ``(C) set forth the amount, if any, of funds provided to nonprofit organizations under subsection (c) during that fiscal year; and ``(D) describe the programs carried out under this section during that fiscal year. ``(2) The Court may require that the nonprofit organization and legal assistance entities to which funds or financial assistance are provided under this section provide the Court with such data on the programs carried out under this section as the Court determines necessary to prepare a report under this subsection. ``(g) For the purposes of this section: ``(1) The term `legal assistance entity' means a not-for- profit organization or veterans service organization capable of providing legal assistance to persons with respect to matters before the Court. ``(2) The term `Legal Services Corporation' means the corporation established under section 1003(a) of the Legal Services Corporation Act (42 U.S.C. 2996b(a)). ``(3) The term `nonprofit organization' means the Legal Services Corporation or any other similar not-for-profit organization that is involved with the provision of legal assistance to persons unable to afford such assistance. ``(4) The term `veterans service organization' means an organization referred to in section 5902(a)(1) of this title, including an organization approved by the Secretary under that section.''. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7286 the following new item: ``7287. Legal assistance for financially needy veterans in Court proceedings; use of funds for assistance.''.
summary: Authorizes the United States Court of Veterans Appeals to provide funds to nonprofit organizations to permit such organizations to provide financial assistance to legal assistance entities, which will in turn provide legal advice or representation to veterans before the Court who cannot afford the costs of such advice and representation. Outlines the legal services to be included as part of such advice and representation. Prohibits the legal assistance entity from also charging the individual a fee for such advice or representation. Provides administrative authority for nonprofit organizations to accept funds for the purposes of this Act. Directs the Court to report annually to the Congress on the funds and financial assistance provided under this Act.