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ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION 86
Introduced by Conrad, 46; Briese, 41; Cavanaugh, J., 9; DeBoer, 10; Dungan, 26;
McKinney, 11; Slama, 1; Vargas, 7; Wayne, 13.
WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska is a nonprofit poverty law firm first founded as the Legal Aid Society of Omaha in 1963 for the purpose of providing free legal assistance in civil cases for those who could not afford an attorney in Omaha and northeast Nebraska; and WHEREAS, Southeast Nebraska Legal Services was founded in 1964 in Lincoln,
and Western Nebraska Legal Services was founded in 1965 in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, both for the purpose of providing free legal assistance in civil cases for those who could not afford an attorney in Lincoln and in central and western Nebraska; and WHEREAS, the Rural Response Hotline was formed in 1984 as part of the Legal Aid Society of Omaha to provide assistance to farmers and ranchers in
crisis; and WHEREAS, the three regional legal aid programs merged in 2000 to form one statewide legal aid program known first as Nebraska Legal Services and then as
Legal Aid of Nebraska; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a statewide legal telephone and Internet-based hotline providing free legal advice to thirteen thousand low-
income Nebraskans each year; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska provides free extended legal assistance to
nearly two thousand low-income Nebraskans each year across four priority areas:
housing, income and benefits, children and families, and debt and finance; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a statewide elder hotline providing free legal advice to hundreds of elderly Nebraskans each year regardless of income; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska provides self-help resources to hundreds of
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Nebraskans through walk-in centers in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska provides free legal assistance to hundreds of Native Americans each year in Nebraska's four tribal courts; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska represents hundreds of domestic violence victims in civil courts in areas including protection orders, child custody,
and child support; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska has full-time offices in Omaha, Lincoln,
Bancroft, Norfolk, Grand Island, North Platte, and Scottsbluff; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska's mission is to promote justice, dignity,
hope, and self-sufficiency through quality civil legal aid for those who have nowhere else to turn; and WHEREAS, Legal Aid of Nebraska succeeds under the leadership of its present board of directors which includes Amy Van Horne, Amy Patras, Braeden Krall, Brandi Yosten, Christopher Buller, Senator Danielle Conrad, Destiny Fant, Douglas Murray, Hannah Sommers, Janice Brown, Honorable Patricia Lamberty, Katherine Voorhees, Marsha Fangmeyer, Melissa Figueroa, Nicole Vereen, Nicole Benegas, Ommohal Koko, Honorable Paul Korslund, Rodney Confer,
Oluseyi "Seyi" Olowolafe, and Terry Waite; and WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes Legal Aid of Nebraska's contributions to the State of Nebraska.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA, FIRST SESSION:
1. That the Legislature extends special recognition to Legal Aid of
Nebraska on the observance of its sixtieth anniversary of incorporation.
2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to Executive Director Laurie Heer Dale at Legal Aid of Nebraska.
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