Report 2015-047 Recommendation Responses

Report 2015-047: The State Bar of California: Its Lack of Transparency Has Undermined Its Communications With Decision Makers and Stakeholders (Release Date: May 2016)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To improve its oversight of the State Bar's financial affairs, the Legislature should require the State Bar to disclose the creation of and use of nonprofit organizations, including the nonprofits' annual budgets and reports on their financial condition explaining the sources and uses of the nonprofits' funding.

Description of Legislative Action

SB36 (Chapter 422, Statutes of 2017) states that as of March 31, 2018, the State Bar shall not create any foundations or nonprofit corporations. Additionally, this bill required the State Bar to assist the Sections of the State Bar to incorporate as a private, nonprofit corporation and to transfer the functions and activities of the existing State Bar Sections to the new private, nonprofit corporation, defined as the Association. The bill prohibited the State Bar from having Sections and transferred the existing Sections of the State Bar to the Association, as specified.

AB 2878 (Stone, 2016) would have, among other things, prohibited the State Bar from creating any foundation or nonprofit corporations, as specified. This bill died in the Assembly.

SB 846 (Anderson, 2016) would have, among other things, prohibited the State Bar from creating any foundation or nonprofit corporations, as specified. This bill died in the Senate.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented


Description of Legislative Action

As of May 12, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of May 12, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

Legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


All Recommendations in 2015-047