California Assembly Bill AB2596 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2596INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Feuer FEBRUARY 24, 2012 An act to amend Section 6031 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to attorneys. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2596, as introduced, Feuer. The State Bar of California. Existing law, the State Bar Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California. The State Bar is governed by a board of trustees of the State Bar. Existing law authorizes the board of trustees to aid in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence or to the improvement of the administration of justice, including, but not limited to, all matters that may advance the professional interests of the members of the State Bar such matters that concern the relations of the State Bar with the public. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 6031 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 6031. (a) The board may aid in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence or to the improvement of the administration of justice, including, but not by way of limitation, all matters that may advance the professional interests of the members of the State Bar and such matters as concern the relations of the  bar   State Bar  with the public. (b) Notwithstanding this section or any other provision of law, the board shall not conduct or participate in, or authorize any committee, agency, employee, or commission of the State Bar to conduct or participate in any evaluation, review, or report on the qualifications, integrity, diligence, or judicial ability of any specific justice of a court provided for in Section 2 or 3 of Article VI of the California Constitution without prior review and statutory authorization by the Legislature. The provisions of this subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit a member of the State Bar from conducting or participating in such an evaluation, review, or report in his or her individual capacity. The provisions of this subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit an evaluation of potential judicial appointees or nominees as authorized by Section 12011.5 of the Government Code.