Alaska Senate bill proposes more legal aid for domestic violence victims, others seeking help
The front of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau is seen on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) An overloaded nonprofit that provides free legal help would be able to serve more Alaskans in need if legislation proposed by Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, becomes law. Senate Bill 104, discussed by the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, would direct 25% of the Alaska Court System's filing fees to the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, up from 10% in an existing state law. Dunbar, a licensed attorney, formerly worked for the agency on a variety of cases. “They provide absolutely crucial legal services, free legal services, to those who can't afford them. Things like family law, landlord-tenant (disputes); they are also the state's largest provider of free legal services to…