Sample Topics

4 topics found.     Page 1 of 1    
What state/federal reforms can protect consumers from usurious payday lending schemes? What legal or policy framework could support banking systems to benefit the poor?
Mississippi Center for Justice
Without access to banks, the poor use an alternative system: payday lenders and check cashing stores. These institutions charge extraordinarily high fees compared to traditional banks - the typical two-week loan has an annual percentage rate of 468% on a $400 loan. The poor pay a penalty, reducing already lean assets. Low-income Mississippi communities end up with a predatory banking system, kept in place by a legal system hidden in the background. What state/federal reforms can protect consumers? What legal or policy framework of incentives, rules and processes could support developing banking systems to benefit the poor?
08-14-2007
Is there a right to health care under the New York Constitution?
The Opportunity Agenda
Is there a right to health care under the New York Constitution? Two provisions added to the Constitution during the Great Depression may answer this question. There have been many decisions explaining the scope of the provision requiring NY to provide aid to the need and relatively little exploring the scope of the Constitution's public health provision. We would like students to analyze what caselaw exists, and look at commentary, newspaper articles and other primary sources from when the provisions were drafted, to help determine their scope.
08-14-2007
What limits exist on HUD's discretion to waive otherwise-applicable requirements for local housing authorities to receive federal money to house low-income families? How is this program actually impacting the supply of housing for the poor?

Congress adopted a demonstration grant program to give flexibility to local housing authorities ("LHAs") receiving federal aid money to house low-income families. The legislation allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") to grant exemptions to LHAs from statutes and regulations that provide significant protections for beneficiaries of federal monies. Are there limits on the scope of HUD's discretion to waive otherwise-applicable requirements? Is litigation over the scope of permissible variation from rules in other demonstration projects in grant-in-aid programs applicable here? How is this program actually impacting the supply of housing for
08-14-2007
What rights do minors have to refuse to participate in psychological treatment (or spiritual programs) chosen by their parents?
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
What rights do minors have to refuse to participate in psychological treatment (or spiritual programs)that their parents or guardians chosen by their parents (such as "reparative" therapy)? What rights to minors have to enter counseling programs (including peer support networks) over the objections of their parents or guardians? Do parents or guardians have a right to be informed of the minor's participation (or, conversely, do minors have a right to keep that information confidential from their parents or guardians?).
08-14-2007

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