CA AB2878

Reduces State Bar board of trustees from 19 members to 13 members by October 31, 2019, eliminating attorney members elected from State Bar Districts and replacing them with appointed members and up to 6 public members serving 4-year terms.

Requires California Supreme Court to select board chair and vice chair instead of board electing president and vice president, and requires executive committee to include at least one member appointed by each of the four appointing authorities (Supreme Court, Governor, Speaker of Assembly, Senate Committee on Rules).

Establishes State Bar enforcement program monitor appointed by Attorney General before March 31, 2017, to evaluate disciplinary system and submit initial report by October 1, 2019, and final report by March 31, 2020.

Requires Office of Chief Trial Counsel to open nonattorney complaints against unlicensed persons practicing law, with specific processing timelines and law enforcement referral procedures, and mandates hiring supervising attorney with immigration law experience.

Exempts State Bar Court from Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and California Public Records Act, subjecting its records to judicial rules instead; requires independent accounting firm audits and California State Auditor performance audits reviewing State Bar expenses including executive salaries.