Board of Governors has a full agenda for its March 25 meeting
When it convenes virtually March 25, the Board of Governors will weigh a proposed Bar budget for FY 2022-23 and a special committee’s much-anticipated recommendations for improving professionalism in the practice of law.
The approximately $40 million annual spending proposal, which requires Supreme Court approval, maintains a 22-year trend of no member fee increases.
Board members could also receive an update on the potential for an automated platform for resolving civil disputes under $1,000.
Sia Baker-Barnes, co-chair of the COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Task Force, told fellow board members in December to expect a demonstration at the March meeting.
In other business, the board is expected to approve adding MemberOptions property and casualty insurance to the Member Benefits Program.
The Member Benefits Committee voted unanimously on January 27 to recommend approval of MemberOptions to replace Geico, a member benefit that expired in February.
The multi-carrier personal lines property and casualty insurance platform will offer Bar members comparative rate quoting for auto and home policies, which includes national carriers such as MetLife, Travelers, Nationwide, Progressive, Safeco, National General, and more.
The board is expected to acknowledge the recent reappointment of Public Member Linda Goldstein of Tampa. On February 3, the Supreme Court reappointed Goldstein for another two-year term that will commence when she takes her oath of office at the Annual Convention in Orlando in June.
The board is also expected to consider:
- Rules Committee proposed amendments to Rule 4-7.22 (Referrals, Directories and Pooled Advertising). The proposed amendments would add a new subdivision (d)(12), which requires that lawyers cannot participate with a qualifying provider unless the qualifying provider has lawyers from at least four different law firms participating.
- Civil Procedure Rules Committee proposed amendments to Rule 1.453 (Jury Request to Review Testimony). The proposed amendment would provide guidance for when a civil jury requests to review testimony presented at trial. The proposed amendment would mirror a similar rule for criminal matters.
- Family Law Procedure Rule Committee proposed amendments to 12.200 (Case Management and Pre-Trial Conferences). Suggested by a judge, the proposed amendment would delete a final sentence in subdivision (c) and conform the rule to current practice.
- Proposed legislative position requests from the Family Law, Elder Law, and Business Law sections.
