The FFLA Board of Directors held its quarterly board meeting on September 20, 2024, in Miami, Fla. The University of Miami School of Law HOPE Public Interest Resource Center hosted the meeting. Roberto R. Pardo presided over the meeting, and grantee presentations were given by Lesley Mendoza, Executive Director, CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, and Jeff Hearne, Chief Advocacy Officer, and Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson, Chief Program and Innovation Officer, Legal Services of Greater Miami. FFLA is appreciative of the accommodations provided and coordinated by Dean Marni Lennon, and the informative and impactful presentations from the grantees.
The major actions of the board and reports received during the meeting included1:
FFLA Sponsorship Policy Finalized and Adopted
The Executive Committee on August 28 approved a formal policy regarding FFLA sponsorships which was contained in the Board’s proposed consent agenda. President Pardo took the matter up separately and reviewed and read the specific language of the policy to the Board which reads:
“FFLA will not sponsor, fund, or contribute to any requests related to promotional events, celebrations, or programs unless approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its Board of Directors. This policy does not apply to civil legal aid grants, awards, or program-related expenses. This policy regarding requests or solicitations for funding sponsorships, promotional events, or other monetary contributions was created in an effort to conserve resources and maximize FFLA’s civil legal aid assistance to those in need.”
The consent agenda and FFLA Sponsorship policy was thereafter approved by the Board by motion and vote.
FY 24-25 Grant Allocation Approved
Grants Committee Vice Chair Brian Currie brought forth the committee’s recommendations contingent upon the outcome of FFLA’s pending petition to the Florida Supreme Court to allow FFLA to establish an IOTA grants reserve.
Both the Grants Allocation Committee and the Grants Committee recommended:
- Allocating $1,600,000 to fund designated grants programs with other collections;
- Allocating $10,400,000 to fund designated grants programs with IOTA collections received in FY 24-25 contingent on need and availability of existing FY 24-25 IOTA collections; and
- Deferring final allocation of FY 23-24 IOTA collections, and a recommendation regarding investment income realized on FY 23-24 IOTA collections until FFLA receives word from the Florida Supreme Court regarding FFLA’s request for reserve.
Vice Chair Currie then presented the Grants Committee’s Board Scenario Worksheet for FY 24-25 as reflected below:
| 2024-25 FFLA Grants and Awards ("Other collections") | FY 23-24 IOTA Collections* | FY 24-25 IOTA Collections (Subject to actual collections) | Grant Program/Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| $900,000 | Administration of Justice Grant Program | ||
| $2,000,000 | Disaster Relief Grants | ||
| $2,000,000 | Loan Repayment Assistance Program (FY 2024-25 allocation would fund approximately 200 attorneys at $10,000 each). | ||
| $500,000 | $1,000,000 | Children's Legal Services | |
| $200,000 | Limited Matching Funds ($50,000 quarterly) | ||
| $200,000 | Training/Technology Initiative ($50,000 quarterly) | ||
| Equal Justice Works Fellowships | |||
| $100,000 | Law School Civil Legal Clinics | ||
| $5,000,000 | Pro Bono Support & Enhancement | ||
| $100,000 | Summer Fellowships | ||
| IOTA Distribution(s) of remaining collections on or before December 31st | |||
| $1,600,000 | $10,400,000 |
An allocation of $1,600,000 in other collections was earmarked for:
- Improvements in the Administration of Justice Grant Program ($900,000):
- Children’s Legal Services ($500,000);
- Law School Civil Legal Clinics ($100,000); and
- Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program ($100,000).
The Board also approved, subject to actual IOTA collections, funding:
- $2 million for LRAP loans (200 loans at $10,000 each);
- $1 million for Children’s Legal Services grants;
- $200,000 for the Limited Matching Funds Grant Program;
- $200,000 for Training/Technology Initiative grants;
- $5 million for Pro Bono Support & Enhancement Grants; and
- $2 million for Disaster Relief Grants.
The balance of all unspent IOTA collections received in FY 23-24 will be distributed to qualified grantee organizations on or before December 31, 2024, per the IOTA rule.
Any awards using these funds are subject to eligibility requirements under the IOTA rule and the FFLA’s IOTA Work Plan.
Report of the Investment Committee
Director Ian Comisky, chair, reported that the Investment Work Group and Committee met the previous day to review the Investment Advisor RFP letter. The committee recommended and the board approved the form of the letter drafted and authorized that it be signed and sent out to prospective applicants on October 4 per the committee’s proposed timeline.
Report of the IOTA Work Group
Ashley Sybesma, Chair, reported on five sub work groups that were appointed since the June 2024 Board meeting.
- Objective Standards Work Group: Work Group #1 was tasked with reviewing the IOTA Implementation Work Plan’s objective standards in light of feedback from the Florida Supreme Court and to endeavor to make any changes deemed necessary. Work Group #1 consists of Laura Boeckman, Chair, Min Cho, Joe Jacquot, Jim Schwarz, Steve Senn and Ret. Justice Peggy Quince.
- Annual Review Work Group: Work Group #2 is charged with the annual review of FFLA’s IOTA Implementation Work Plan and its Fair Distribution Plan in particular. The group consists of Steve Salzer, Chair, Ian Comisky and Murray Silverstein.
- Florida Rural Legal Services Work Group: Work Group #3 consists of Maria Gonzalez, Chair, Connie Bookman, Bob Pardo, John Patterson, Kyle Robisch and Steve Senn. Ms. Sybesma reported that the work group was tasked with considering cessation of future IOTA funding to Florida Rural Legal Services until such time as it can provide satisfactory proof of remediation of its auditors’ findings, along with sufficient proof of actual expenditures of IOTA collections consistent with the requirements and obligations imposed on qualified grantee organizations pursuant to Rule 5-1.1(g), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Ms. Sybesma reported that the work group was awaiting FRLS’s audit report and would schedule a meeting to review after receipt of such.
- Disability Rights Florida and Crossroads for Florida Kids Work Group: Ms. Sybesma explained that Work Group #4 consisted of the same members as Work Group #3. She reported that the Work Group is considering Disability Rights Florida and Crossroads for Florida Kids’ qualifications as potential, new FFLA grantees and that the work group would be meeting the following week to continue its review.
- Application Work Group: Ms. Sybesma reported that Work Group #5 consisted of Min Cho, Chair, Maria Gonzalez and Hon. Suzanne Van Wyk. She reported that the group is considering adoption of a formal application for prospective qualified grantee organizations for the purpose of being added to FFLA’s IOTA collections distribution network. She further explained that the group’s proposal should be ready for consideration on October 2, 2024.
Next Meeting
The Board’s next scheduled meeting will be on December 5-6, 2024, in Jacksonville at the Jacksonville University College of Law.
1A more detailed account of the meeting is contained in the Board’s meeting minutes, copies of which are available upon request.
