June 1996

Cover

 
  • A Due Process Primer: Litigating Government Benefit Cases in the Block Grant Era

    The prospect of block grant legislation that would transform federal benefit programs has dramatic implications for the litigation of basic issues of procedural fairness in the administration of those programs. This article reviews recent case law that shapes the degree to which the courts will honor due process claims, suggests strategies for asserting procedural claims, and offers cautionary notes on the ways in which procedural claims may undermine client interests.

    By Nancy Morawetz

  • Due Process for Welfare Recipients Subject to Changing Program Rules: An Illinois Case Study

    As federal statutory protections for welfare recipients become threatened or weakened, what protections remain available under the Due Process Clause to ameliorate the transition from existing eligibility rules to new and tighter rules? This article explores "transitional" due process issues with Youakim v. McDonald as a case study.

    By John Bouman

  • Student Fee Waivers in Public Schools: Have Fees Created a Private School Within a Public School

    In more than half of the states, student fees are assessed against children attending public schools. In those states, the only way for low-income children to have access to certain classes and activities may be through fee waivers. This article examines fee waivers, why waivers should apply to extracurricular fees, and due process requirements for fee waivers.

    By David G. Challed

  • Mapping the Needs of the Poor

    Maps displaying the needs of low-income populations are an effective and dramatic means of interpreting quantitative research results. The National Consumer Law Center now can create maps showing poverty statistics, including energy usage, price, and other utility data, profiles of low-income housing needs, portraits of agency service areas, and other demographic information.

    By Maggie Spade