AB 2958 Summary

• Repeals the Governance in the Public Interest Task Force requirements within the State Bar of California.

• Time served by board members filling midterm vacancies no longer counts toward term limits for those members.

• Establishes requirements for State Bar entities exploring regulatory sandboxes, prioritizing protection of consumers from unscrupulous actors and adherence to unauthorized practice of law restrictions, with a reporting requirement due January 15, 2023.

• Reduces active licensee annual fees to $390 ($386 if San Francisco office building sale contract entered by October 31, 2022) for 2023, maintains $45 additional fee with $5 allocated to law student summer fellowships through December 31, 2024, and changes lobbying fee from opt-out to opt-in model effective January 1, 2023.

• Requires California State Auditor to conduct performance audit of State Bar programs by April 15, 2023, evaluating fee allocation, staffing, resources, and discipline system administration; allows up to 10 percent of San Francisco building sale proceeds to improve discipline system annually.

• Requires State Bar to comply with data breach notification requirements and expand outreach for Attorney Diversion and Assistance Program to include behavioral health continuing education courses.