Title: Amendments to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

APPENDIX
 
RULE 1-7.3 MEMBERSHIP FEES
(a)  Membership Fees Requirement.  On or before July 1 of each year, every
member of The Florida Bar, except those members who have retired, resigned, been
disbarred, or been classified as inactive members pursuant to rule 3-7.13, shall pay
annual membership fees to The Florida Bar in the amount set by the budget, provided
that the board of governors shall not fix the membership fees at more than $190265
per annum.  At the time of the payment of membership fees every member of The
Florida Bar shall file with the executive director a statement setting forth any
information that may be required by the board of governors.
Membership fees tendered to The Florida Bar shall not be accepted from any
member who is delinquent in the payment of costs or restitution imposed against the
member in a disciplinary proceeding.  Costs shall be deemed delinquent unless paid
within 30 days after the disciplinary decision becomes final unless such time is
extended by the board of governors for good cause shown. Restitution shall be
deemed delinquent unless accomplished in the manner and by the date provided in the
disciplinary order or agreement.
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(b)  Prorated Membership Fees.  Persons admitted to The Florida Bar
subsequent to July 1 of any fiscal year shall pay the annual membership fees for that
fiscal year prorated on the basis of the number of full calendar months of the fiscal
year remaining at the time of their admission.
Failure to pay prorated membership fees shall result in the amount of such
prorated membership fees being added to the next annual membership fees billing to
the member without penalty.  The combined prorated and annual membership fees
payment must thereafter be received by The Florida Bar on or before August 15,
unless the member elects to pay by installment under this rule.
(c)  Installment Payment of Membership Fees.  Members of The Florida Bar
may elect to pay annual membership fees in 3 equal installments as follows:
(1)  in the second and third year of their admission to The Florida Bar; or
(2)  if the member is employed by a federal, state, or local government in a non-
elected position that requires the individual to maintain membership in good standing
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within The Florida Bar.
A member's notice of election to pay membership fees in installments under this
rule and the first installment payment thereunder must be postmarked no later than
August 15.  The second and third installment payments must be postmarked no later
than November 1 and February 1, respectively.
Second and/or third installment payments postmarked after their respective due
date(s) shall be subject to a one-time late charge of $50 per fiscal year, which shall
accompany the final payment unless adjusted by the executive director with
concurrence of the executive committee for good cause shown.
The executive director shall send written notice by registered or certified mail
to the last official bar address of each member whose membership fees and late fees
have not been paid under this rule by February 1.  Upon failure to pay membership
fees and any late charges under this rule by March 15, unless adjusted by the executive
director with concurrence of the executive committee for good cause shown, the
member shall be a delinquent member.
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Each member who elects to pay annual membership fees in installments under
this rule may be charged an additional administrative fee to defray the costs of this
activity as set by the Board of Governors.
(d)  Election of Inactive Membership.  A member in good standing may elect
by August 15 of a fiscal year to be classified as an inactive member.  Such election
shall be made only by indication of such choice on the annual membership fees
statement and payment of the prescribed annual membership fees.  Failure to make the
initial election by August 15 shall constitute a waiver of the member's right to the
election until the next fiscal year.  Once a member has properly elected to be classified
as an inactive member, such classification shall continue from fiscal year to fiscal year
until such time as the member is reinstated as a member in good standing as elsewhere
provided in these rules.  The election of inactive status shall be subject to the
restrictions and limitations elsewhere provided.
Membership fees for inactive members shall be set by the board of governors
in an amount not to exceed $140175 per annum.
(e)  Late Payment of Membership Fees.  Payment of annual membership fees
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must be postmarked no later than August 15.  Membership fees payments postmarked
after August 15 shall be accompanied by a late charge of $50 unless adjusted by the
executive director with concurrence of the executive committee for good cause shown.
The executive director shall send written notice by registered or certified mail to the
last official bar address of each member whose membership fees have not been paid
by August 15.  Upon failure to pay membership fees and any late charges by
September 30, unless adjusted by the executive director with concurrence of the
executive committee for good cause shown, the member shall be a delinquent member.