The State Bar Act.

Existing law, the State Bar Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California, a public corporation. The State Bar is governed by a board known as the board of governors of the State Bar. The board of governors consists of 16 attorney members, 6 public members, and the President of the State Bar. This bill would also require, on or before February 1, 2011, a Governance in the Public Interest Task Force to be created within the State Bar and to be made up of 11 specified board members appointed by the President of the State Bar. The bill would require, on or before May 15, 2011, and every 3 years thereafter, that the task force prepare a report, including a dissenting report, if applicable, to be submitted to the Supreme Court, the Governor, and the Judiciary Committees that includes its recommendations for, among other things, enhancing and ensuring the protection of the public. The bill would also require that the State Bar, commencing on or before February 1, 2011, make available, upon request of a member of the public, the classification and compensation paid to its employees and other specified information relating to compensation and benefits. Existing law requires the board of governors to charge an annual membership fee for active members of up to $315 for the year 2010. Existing law also requires the board to charge an annual membership fee for inactive members of up to $75. Under existing law, these fees are payable on or before the first day of March 2010. This bill would require the board to charge that annual membership fee for active members for 2011. The bill would also specify that the annual membership fee for active members and inactive members is payable on or before the first day of February of each year. The bill would authorize, until January 1, 2014, $10 of those membership fees to be allocated to support specified activities, and would authorize a member to deduct that amount from his or her annual fee if the member elects not to make this allocation. Existing law, until January 1, 2011, authorizes the board of governors to increase the annual membership fee for active members by up to $10 in any year to be used for the costs of upgrading its information technology system, and requires this additional amount to be separately listed and described in the annual membership fee invoice. Existing law also requires the board to report to the Judiciary Committees on or before April 1, 2009, and twice thereafter as specified, on the use of these additional funds. This bill would extend the operation of the provision authorizing an increase of the annual membership fee to January 1, 2014, and would require the board to report on the use of these additional funds on or before April 1, 2011, and twice thereafter.