SB 0955 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0955 - Prohibited Attorney-Client Transactions

L.R. NO.  3563-01
BILL NO.  SB 955
SUBJECT:  Attorney/Client Transactions
TYPE:     Original
DATE:     March 5, 1996



                              FISCAL SUMMARY

                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED               FY 1997         FY 1998         FY 1999

None

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds                      $0              $0              $0


                   ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED               FY 1997         FY 1998         FY 1999

None

Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds                    $0              $0              $0


                    ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS

FUND AFFECTED               FY 1997         FY 1998         FY 1999

Local Government                 $0              $0              $0


                              FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed
legislation would amend the Supreme Court Rule on legal ethics to remove the
restrictions on lawyers funding clients; however, this change would have
little impact on the workload or budget of the judiciary.

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Prosecution
Services, and the Office of the State Public Defender assume this proposal
would have no fiscal impact on their agencies.


FISCAL IMPACT - State Government     FY 1997    FY 1998    FY 1999
                                    (10 Mo.)

                                          $0         $0         $0


FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government     FY 1997    FY 1998    FY 1999
                                    (10 Mo.)

                                          $0         $0         $0


DESCRIPTION

The proposed legislation would amend Supreme Court Rule 1.8 by deleting
paragraph (e) from this rule.  Paragraph (e) states that a lawyer shall not
provide financial assistance to a client in connection with litigation
unless:  1) the lawyer advances the costs and expenses of litigation; or 2)
the lawyer, who is representing an indigent client, pays the court costs and
expenses of litigation for that client.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other
program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental
space.


SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Office of State Courts Administrator
Office of the Attorney General
Office of Prosecution Services
Office of the State Public Defender