Article 30: Legal Aid and Civil Legal Services Programs · Last amended 2024 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section charges the Commission on Public Advocacy with setting annual eligibility guidelines, defining service areas, prioritizing which legal services get funded, and certifying one or more service providers for each area through an annual application process.
Full Text of § 25-3003
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(1) The Commission on Public Advocacy shall establish eligibility criteria and guidelines to determine on an annual basis (a) the service areas, (b) the legal services to be provided and the priorities for providing the services, which shall be determined in accordance with subsection (1) of section 25-3004, and (c) the service provider or providers for each service area. The commission shall annually certify one or more service providers for each service area. A single service provider may be certified for more than one service area. Such certification entitles the service provider to a distribution of funds as defined and determined by section 25-3004.
(2) The commission shall accept applications for certification on an annual basis from entities interested in providing free civil legal services to eligible low- income persons. In the application, each applicant shall certify to the commission that the applicant intends to provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons as determined by the commission.
Source
Laws 1997, LB 729, § 5; Laws 2024, LB1195, § 1.
Plain-English Summary
Section 25-3003 lays out the commission’s yearly to-do list. Each year it has to set the service areas that divide the state, decide which legal services are provided and in what order of priority, and certify one or more service providers for every area. A single organization can hold certification for more than one area, but no area goes uncovered. Certification is not just a label — it entitles the certified provider to a distribution of grant money under section 25-3004.
To reach that certification decision, the commission accepts applications from any entity that wants to provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons. Each applicant has to certify to the commission that it intends to provide those services, giving the commission a documented basis for choosing who serves each area before the money starts moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Commission on Public Advocacy decide each year?
The service areas the state is divided into, which legal services are provided and in what priority, and which provider or providers are certified for each area.
Can one organization serve more than one service area?
Yes. Section 25-3003 allows a single service provider to be certified for more than one service area.
What does certification entitle a service provider to?
A distribution of grant funds, determined under section 25-3004, for the service area or areas it is certified to cover.
How does a nonprofit apply for certification?
By submitting an application to the commission during its annual application period for entities interested in providing free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons.
What must an applicant certify when applying?
That it intends to provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons as determined by the commission.
Is certification a one-time event or a recurring process?
Recurring. The commission sets guidelines and certifies providers on an annual basis, not once and for all.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:commission on public advocacy dutieslegal aid provider certification nebraskaservice area certification process nebraskaannual legal aid guidelineshow to become certified legal aid provider