Bar Association board approves sending amendment to allow pay for Limited Practice Board volunteers

The Bar Association board voted to approve language for an amendment to APR 12 b 3 that would allow the association to provide modest payments to volunteers serving on the Limited Practice (LP) Board. The board approved the motion and will send the proposed amendment to the court as the next procedural step.

Board staff told members the change is intended to align LP Board compensation with existing payments to the board of bar examiners. An unnamed staff presenter said the proposed payment structure "mirrors the compensation that's already being provided to our board of bar examiners." The presenter described estimated budget impacts: $2,640 per year for exam grading and an additional $1,500 to $2,750 per year depending on the number of people reviewing questions and drafting new questions.

Under current APR 12 b 3 language, members of the LP Board "shall not be compensated for their services" and may receive only reasonable reimbursement, staff said. The board was asked to discuss and approve new language that would permit compensation at a level established by the Bar while preserving reimbursement for expenses. Staff emphasized that approval by the board would be the first step and that the change must then be submitted to the court for final authorization.

Governor Kevin Fay moved the motion; a second was recorded as "seconded" (no name given). During roll call, the following board members registered an affirmative vote: Lisonbee Whitney, Mary Rathbone, Kevin Fay, Todd Bloom, Parvin Price, Matthew Dresden, Christina Larry, Chris Bang, Nam Nguyen, Emily Arneson, Tom Ahern and Kari Petrossa. Alain Villeneuve was noted as not present at the vote. The meeting record shows the motion passed.

The board did not adopt specific implementation dates or identify a final annual budget line in the meeting discussion. Staff indicated implementing payments would require the court-approved amendment before any compensation could be distributed. The item closed with the board instructing staff to send the proposed amendment language to the court for approval.