HB 5385

Amends the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act. Allows a solo practitioner in or employed by a private practice in a county with 20 or fewer attorneys in private practice to be considered a "public interest attorney"" who may apply for loan repayment assistance under the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Allows a graduate of a law school located in the State who is a licensed attorney in another state in good standing to be eligible for assistance. Adds as an eligibility requirement that an applicant must not have earned more than $120, 000 from the practice of law in the prior 12 months. Raises the maximum amount of assistance to $10, 000 (rather than $6, 000) per year and $50, 000 (rather than $30, 000) during a program participant's career. Makes other changes."