Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes courts to redirect unclaimed funds from class action lawsuits.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Legal Aid Supplementary Account in which all funds in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for the purpose of distributions (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes a court to order that any amount not paid to members of a class action lawsuit to be deposited in the Legal Aid Supplementary Account if it is not claimed within the time specified by the court, or if the court finds that payment of all or part of the damages to class members is not practicable (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Department to distribute the interest earned by the account in each of the previous calendar quarters to the Oregon State Bar, which may be used only for the funding of the Legal Services Program (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that this act applies only to class actions in which a judgment has not been entered before the effective date of this act (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this act is declared an emergency and will take effect on its passage (Sec. 6). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes courts to redirect unclaimed funds from class action lawsuits.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Legal Aid Supplementary Account in which all funds in the account are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for the purpose of distributions (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes a court to order that any amount not paid to members of a class action lawsuit to be deposited in the Legal Aid Supplementary Account if it is not claimed within the time specified by the court, or if the court finds that payment of all or part of the damages to class members is not practicable (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Department to distribute the interest earned by the account in each of the previous calendar quarters to the Oregon State Bar, which may be used only for the funding of the Legal Services Program (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that this act applies only to class actions in which a judgment has not been entered before the effective date of this act (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this act is declared an emergency and will take effect on its passage (Sec. 6). 

Full Bill Text