Cal. Civ. Code § 13-40-127

(1) As
used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) 
"Administrator" means the state court administrator, appointed
pursuant to section 13-3-101.

(b) 
"Fund" means the eviction legal defense fund established in
subsection (2) of this section.

(c) 
"Indigent" means a person whose income does not exceed two hundred
percent of the family federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size,
determined annually by the United States department of health and human
services.

(d) 
"Qualifying organization" means an organization that:

(I) Has
demonstrated experience and expertise in providing full service civil legal
services to indigent clients;

(II) Is
based in Colorado;

(III) 
Is exempt from taxation pursuant to section 501 (c)(3) of the federal
"Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended; and

(IV) 
Obtains more than twenty percent of its funding from sources other than grants
from the fund.

(2) 
There is established in the state treasury the eviction legal defense fund.
Pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the state court administrator is
authorized to make grants from the fund to qualifying organizations providing
civil legal services to indigent residents of the state of Colorado.

(3) The
administrator shall award grants from the fund to qualifying organizations to
provide legal advice, counseling, and representation for, and on behalf of,
indigent clients who are experiencing an eviction or are at immediate risk of
an eviction. Money from the fund may be used for services that include:

(a) 
Providing legal representation to indigent tenants for resolving civil legal
matters related to an eviction or impending eviction. Such representation may
include representation in any forcible entry and detainer proceeding or action
for monetary damages related to nonpayment of rent or other lease violation,
legal assistance prior to the filing of an eviction, or any other judicial
actions in which legal representation is necessary to protect the interests of
an indigent tenant.

(b) 
Establishing clinics designed to educate and assist indigent tenants in
eviction proceedings, including providing information related to the rights and
responsibilities of landlords and tenants;

(c) 
Providing legal information and advice to indigent tenants;

(d) 
Referring clients to appropriate persons or agencies that provide assistance
with issues related to housing; and

(e) 
Providing mediation services for disputes between a landlord and tenant that
could prevent or resolve the filing of an eviction.

(4) (a) 
A qualifying organization seeking to receive a grant from the fund shall submit
an application each year to the state court administrator on a form provided by
the administrator. The application form must request any information that the
administrator needs to determine whether the applying organization meets the
qualifications for receipt of a grant.

(b) (I) 
On October 1, 2019, and on July 1 each year thereafter, the administrator shall
distribute grants from the fund, subject to available appropriations, to a
qualifying organization for each county or city and county in proportion to the
number of forcible entry and detainer petitions filed in the county or city and
county.

(II) If
there is more than one qualifying organization within a county or city and
county, the administrator shall disburse the grant for such county or city and
county to each qualifying organization in proportion to the number of clients
served by each qualifying organization or its predecessor in the preceding
year.

(c) 
Each qualifying organization that receives a grant pursuant to this section
shall submit an annual report to the administrator that includes the following
information, to the extent possible and to the extent that it does not violate
the privilege and confidentiality of an attorney client relationship:

(I) The
number of clients served by the organization;

(II) 
The nature of the assistance rendered to each client, such as providing
information, advice, mediation, or representation;

(III) 
The type of alleged lease violation, if any, for each client;

(IV) 
The amount of rent in dispute, if any, for each client;

(V) The
number of tenants the organization was unable to serve;

(VI) 
Demographic data for clients assisted by the organization with a grant from the
fund, including zip code, household income, family status, race and ethnicity
information, age, and disability status;

(VII) 
The number of referrals to a rental assistance or mediation program provided to
clients; and

(VIII) 
The outcome of each client's case, including whether a case was dismissed,
judgment for possession was entered, a stipulated agreement was made that
prevented entry of a judgment for possession, a stipulated agreement was made
that provided the client with an opportunity to vacate a judgment for
possession at a later date, and whether the client had to move from the
residence and, if so, whether the client received additional time to move and
how much time was provided.

(5) (a) 
In addition to money transferred to the fund pursuant to section 24-22-118 (2)
and any appropriation from the general fund, the administrator may seek,
accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources
for the purposes of this section. The administrator shall transmit all money
received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall
credit the money to the fund.

(b) 
Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the administrator may
expend money from the fund for the direct and indirect costs associated with
the administration of this section. The state treasurer shall credit all
interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the
fund to the fund.

(c) Any
unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal
year remains in the fund and does not revert to the general fund or any other
fund.

(6) (a) 
On or before December 31, 2024, and on or before December 31 every five years
thereafter, the administrator shall evaluate the use of grant money awarded
from the fund. This evaluation must consider the following metrics, and whether
each has increased or decreased compared to the years before the fund was
established:

(I) The
percentage of forcible entry and detainer filings that resulted in judgments
ordered against tenants, organized by whether the tenant was represented by an
attorney;

(II) 
The number of writs of restitution issued, organized by whether the tenant was
represented by an attorney;

(III) 
The rate of legal representation among defendants facing eviction;

(IV) 
The number of answers filed in response to forcible entry and detainer
petitions, organized by whether the tenant was represented by an attorney;

(V) 
Based on information reported to the administrator by qualifying organizations,
the number of indigent clients who have been referred to programs that provide
emergency rent assistance or mediation services or to other public and
nonprofit resources that will bolster the economic security of tenants and
their families;

(VI) 
Based on information reported to the administrator by qualifying organizations,
the distribution of information to indigent tenants concerning state laws
related to the landlord-tenant relationship; and

(VII) 
Based on information reported to the administrator by qualifying organizations,
the number of indigent clients who were provided legal advice.

(b) An
evaluation performed pursuant to this subsection (6) must include, and
consider, the information provided to the administrator by qualified
organizations related to client services pursuant to subsection (4)(c) of this
section.

(c) 
Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the administrator shall submit an
evaluation required pursuant to this subsection (6) to the judiciary committees
of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees.

(7) to
(9) Repealed.