CA SB846

Reduces State Bar board size from 19 to 13 members by October 31, 2019, eliminating elected attorney members from State Bar Districts and requiring 4-year terms for all board members.

Establishes minimum of 7 public members on the board appointed by the Governor, Senate Committee on Rules, and Speaker of the Assembly, with new appointees after December 31, 2016 required to have experience in public finance, administration, business management, state government, legal ethics, or immigration law.

Transfers power to select board chair and vice chair from the board to the California Supreme Court, with chair serving 2-year terms, and grants Supreme Court authority to review and veto anticompetitive board decisions.

Requires California Supreme Court review of State Bar anticompetitive decisions with power to modify, veto, or take other appropriate action; establishes State Bar enforcement program monitor appointed by Attorney General to evaluate disciplinary system with reports due by October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

Protects State Bar Court records under judicial rules rather than California Public Records Act and exempts State Bar Court from Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act; allows disclosure of bar admission information beginning January 1, 2016.