42 U.S.C. § 2996 — Congressional findings and declaration of

Page 5655 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 2996b A prior section 2995c, Pub. L. 88–452, title IX, § 904, as added Pub. L. 92–424, § 27(a), Sept. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 705, which provided for the publication of summaries of evaluations of the results of research, was omitted as superseded in the general reorganization and amend- ment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 93–644, § 12, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2327. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF REPEAL Repeal effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 9912(a) of this title, prior to the general amendment of chapter 106 (§ 9901 et seq.) of this title by Pub. L. 105–285. § 2995d. Omitted Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section, Pub. L. 88–452, title IX, § 905, as added Pub. L. 92–424, § 27(a), Sept. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 705, allowed head of any agency administering a program authorized under this chapter to conduct evaluations and take other action to same extent as Director under this sub- chapter, prior to the general amendment of this sub- chapter by Pub. L. 93–644, § 12, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2327. SUBCHAPTER X—LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION § 2996. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose The Congress finds and declares that— (1) there is a need to provide equal access to the system of justice in our Nation for individ- uals who seek redress of grievances; (2) there is a need to provide high quality legal assistance to those who would be other- wise unable to afford adequate legal counsel and to continue the present vital legal serv- ices program; (3) providing legal assistance to those who face an economic barrier to adequate legal counsel will serve best the ends of justice and assist in improving opportunities for low-in- come persons consistent with the purposes of this chapter; (4) for many of our citizens, the availability of legal services has reaffirmed faith in our government of laws; (5) to preserve its strength, the legal serv- ices program must be kept free from the influ- ence of or use by it of political pressures; and (6) attorneys providing legal assistance must have full freedom to protect the best interests of their clients in keeping with the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Canons of Ethics, and the high standards of the legal profession. (Pub. L. 88–452, title X, § 1001, as added Pub. L. 93–355, § 2, July 25, 1974, 88 Stat. 378; amended Pub. L. 95–222, § 2, Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1619.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1977—Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–222 inserted provision relat- ing to assistance in improving opportunities for low-in- come persons consistent with this chapter. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1977 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 95–222, § 17(b), Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1624, pro- vided that: ‘‘The amendments made by provisions of this Act other than sections 11 and 15 [amending this section and sections 2996c, 2996e, 2996f, 2996g, 2996h, 2996i, and 2996j of this title] shall be effective on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 28, 1977].’’ SHORT TITLE This subchapter is known as the ‘‘Legal Services Cor- poration Act’’, see Short Title note set out under sec- tion 2701 of this title. § 2996a. Definitions As used in this subchapter, the term— (1) ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation; (2) ‘‘Corporation’’ means the Legal Services Corporation established under this subchapter; (3) ‘‘eligible client’’ means any person finan- cially unable to afford legal assistance; (4) ‘‘Governor’’ means the chief executive of- ficer of a State; (5) ‘‘legal assistance’’ means the provision of any legal services consistent with the pur- poses and provisions of this subchapter; (6) ‘‘recipient’’ means any grantee, con- tractee, or recipient of financial assistance de- scribed in clause (A) of section 2996e(a)(1) of this title; (7) ‘‘staff attorney’’ means an attorney who receives more than one-half of his annual pro- fessional income from a recipient organized solely for the provision of legal assistance to eligible clients under this subchapter; and (8) ‘‘State’’ means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Common- wealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (Pub. L. 88–452, title X, § 1002, as added Pub. L. 93–355, § 2, July 25, 1974, 88 Stat. 378.) Executive Documents TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Is- lands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions. § 2996b. Legal Services Corporation (a) Establishment; purpose There is established in the District of Colum- bia a private nonmembership nonprofit corpora- tion, which shall be known as the Legal Services Corporation, for the purpose of providing finan- cial support for legal assistance in noncriminal proceedings or matters to persons financially unable to afford legal assistance. (b) Principal office; agent for service of process The Corporation shall maintain its principal office in the District of Columbia and shall maintain therein a designated agent to accept service of process for the Corporation. Notice to or service upon the agent shall be deemed notice to or service upon the Corporation. (c) Status of Corporation under tax laws The Corporation, and any legal assistance pro- gram assisted by the Corporation, shall be eligi- ble to be treated as an organization described in