The FFLA Board of Directors convened in Tampa, Fla., on December 12, 2025. The meeting was hosted by Stetson University College of Law.
Presentations
Before the meeting, the Board received two presentations, one by Theresa Prichard, Executive Director of Gulfcoast Legal Services, and the other by J. Michael Shea and Lamine Gueye of St. Michael’s Legal Center.
During the meeting, the Board received a report from the Hillsborough County Bar Association regarding a grant it received from FFLA via an anonymous donor regarding its expungement project.
The Board extends its gratitude to the presenters for their informative and well-prepared sessions. The Board also extends it deep appreciation to Judge E.J. Salcines, Jr., who facilitated the arrangements for the board’s meeting in Tampa, which saved FFLA considerable time and expense.
Meeting – Action Items
President Ashley N. Sybesma presided over the meeting and the major action items taken up and decided at the meeting follow.
Report of the Audit Committee
A. Audited Financial Statements FYE 6-30-25
Audit Committee Chair Steve Salzer briefly presented Audited Financial Statements for FFLA and The Florida Bar Foundation Endowment (FBFE), as prepared by Carr Riggs & Ingram CPAs (CRI).
Heather Mosier, a partner with CRI, then presented her report which indicated that the report was unmodified and found no internal control findings or significant unusual transactions. The report further opined that FFLA’s consolidated financial statements presented fairly in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted and applicable accounting principles.
After an executive session, Chair Salzer announced that the Board accepted the audit and authorized Mr. MacKenzie, as Executive Director, and Ms. Julie Collins, as Director of Finance, to sign the applicable representation letters related to the audit process. Mr. MacKenzie thanked the staff, especially Ms. Collins and Ms. Lindsey Stout in the Finance Department, for its hard work and for remaining diligent and cognizant of FFLA’s internal procedures regarding all financial transactions and reviews.
B. Use of IOTA Funds Audit
Mr. Salzer also discussed FFLA’s consideration of grantees’ proposed Agreed Upon Procedures regarding Use of IOTA Funds Audits and FFLA’s retention of an independent accounting firm to prepare a similar prototype/template. Mr. Salzer and Mr. MacKenzie reported that FFLA will continue reviewing both proposed work products, with input from grantees, with the goal of finalizing a prototype/template for use by grantees by January 31, 2026.
NOTE: Use of IOTA Funds Audits are required of all grantees who receive IOTA collections funding from FFLA. The purpose of the audit is to confirm that grantees’ use of IOTA funding received from FFLA complies with the Florida Supreme Court’s IOTA rule and FFLA’s objective standards.
Report of the Grants Committee
A. 47 Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellowships Approved, 6 with assistance from The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar
The Board approved 47 Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellowships designed to allow law students to work with civil legal aid grantees for 10 weeks during the summer (May to August) while getting paid. The Fellowships introduce law students to real time experiences with clients, courts, and lawyers engaged in handling civil legal aid issues on behalf of low-income clients. Six fellowships were sponsored by The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. This is the third year in a row the Section graciously sponsored fellowships geared toward family law matters.
Grantees requested 49 placements, while 106 law students applied to become an FFLA summer fellow for Summer 2026. Staff reviewed all placement requests and all law student applications. Applicants received points for GPA, bilingual ability, Certified Legal Intern status and their law school year. Staff scored applications based on interest in public interest law, leadership, experience and quality of writing.
The Grants Committee recommended, and the Board approved, funding 47 placements and providing cost-of living stipend adjustments to eight students conditioned upon actual need to be determined by staff during the award process. A copy of staff’s report and recommendation and proposed funding worksheet are contained in the Board’s meeting materials and available upon request.
B. Board approves $2,045,600.93 for 2026 Loan Repayment Assistance Program
FFLA allocated $2 million for LRAP loans in calendar year 2026. It received 212 applications from 127 current recipients and 85 new applicants with total requests amounting to $2,045,600.93. The total amount of student loan debt reported for these 212 applicants was $37,767,909, which averages $178,151 per applicant.
The Board approved allocating an additional $45,600.93, as needed, to fund all eligible applicants. A copy of the report and recommendation and proposed funding worksheet are contained in the Board’s meeting materials and available upon request.
C. Board approves December IOTA Distribution Funding
Pursuant to Rule 5-1.1(g)(8), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, the Board approved distribution of $119,410,493 to qualified grantee organizations by December 31, representing a 32% increase from last year’s December distribution. Two new grantees were added to the network on a trial basis and two were deemed currently ineligible pending completion of Use of IOTA Funds audits.
In line with FFLA’s standard practice, the Board authorized a work group consisting of staff, President Sybesma and Directors Currie, Schwarz and Salzer to review the funding worksheets and resulting distribution chart and make final adjustments to conform to the IOTA rule’s requirements and assure timely disbursement of funds before December 31, 2025. Staff’s memorandum and recommendations are contained in the Board’s meeting materials and are available upon request.
D. Board authorizes staff to continue negotiations with Thomson Reuters/Westlaw for added AI features
FFLA is currently reviewing the feasibility of increasing its current program-related expense subsidies for certain technology services it provides to its grantees, namely an existing case management software system (LegalServer) and Westlaw research services. Currently, it administers and partially subsidizes a state-wide contract for both of these services at a significantly discounted rate. It is considering increasing the partial subsidy to 100% for these two products.
The Board reviewed Thomson Reuters’ current proposal and authorized staff to refuse acceptance of such proposal and to continue negotiations with the company to possibly amend its existing contract effective July 1, 2026.
Executive Director Report
Donny MacKenzie delivered a brief report, presenting essential annual information regarding FFLA’s updated schedule of insurance coverage. He also reviewed several important issues relevant to FFLA’s grantees, many of whom attended both in person and virtually.
During his update, he provided status reports on various initiatives, including the Use of IOTA Funds audits, recent Grantee Town Hall meetings, the FFLA Grantee Hub, inquiries related to The Florida Bar’s petition to amend the IOTA Rule governing remittance rates, and the ongoing work of the Minimum Annual Distributions work group. He also encouraged input from all stakeholders regarding a proposed new Elder Law Program and expressed his gratitude to the staff for their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to FFLA’s mission of increasing and improving access to our justice system.
Next Meeting
The Board’s next scheduled meeting will be on March 27, 2026, at Florida State University College of Law.
FFLA is most grateful for the warm hospitality provided by Stetson University College of Law and looks forward to a productive and pleasant meeting in Tallahassee.
