Professor Luz Herrera Serves on Two California Attorney General’s Advisory Panels
April 26, 2013
TJSL Professor Luz Herrera recently served on two expert panels appointed by California Attorney General Kamala Harris to make recommendations on distribution of funds to help Californians affected by the state’s foreclosure crisis.
Professor Herrera served on both the Consumer Assistance Grants Panel and the Homeowner Bill of Rights implementation Panel.
The Consumer Assistance Grant Panel reviewed grant applications for the National Mortgage Settlement Grants and provided recommendations to the Attorney General. The Attorney General’s Office made the final decision on grant awards based on the panels’ recommendations and awarded $9.4 million to 21 organizations that are distributing the grant money to assist Californians affected by the foreclosure crisis.
The second panel made recommendations on how to implement the California Homeowners Bill of Rights (HBOR) that gives borrowers more opportunities to stay in their homes. As part of that, the panel made recommendations on how to use a $1-million grant that will enable the National Housing Law Project to educate and train lawyers to implement the HBOR and help ensure that everyone gets the protection they are entitled to.
“It was wonderful to have the opportunity to learn about all the great work organizations across the state are doing to support, help and educate those affected by the foreclosure crisis,” said Professor Herrera. “The distribution of settlement funds to community organizations and consumer advocates is an important first step to creating the infrastructure that communities need to offer greater consumer protection.”
According to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office, AG Harris said: “The foreclosure crisis has inflicted wide-ranging and deep harm to California homeowners and communities. These grants will give homeowners and families the financial and legal tools they need to recover.”
Professor Herrera will be on leave during the Fall 2013 semester to work on a related project for the California Attorney General that monitors the state’s settlement with the five largest banks.