Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar publishes this notice of intent to consider the following items at its October 2, 2026, Board of Governors meeting. This is governed by Rule 1-12.1, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. If approved by the board, most rules amendments must still be formally filed with the Supreme Court of Florida, with further notice and opportunity to be heard, before they are officially approved and become effective. Amendments to section bylaws and standing board policies are final on board of governors action. Additionally, non-substantive edits to conform to the Florida Supreme Court style guide are not noted in the summary. Comments can be emailed to Kelly Smith at [email protected].

 FIRST READING

 Standing Board Policy 5.57 Guidelines for Groups Seeking Section Status

Within subdivision (a)(7), changes dues generating at least $3,000.00 per year to sufficient operating, non-investment income to cover all identified events and activities and the section management fee that will be assessed based on identified proposed section activities.  Within subdivision (b), increases the percentage of interested Florida Bar members from 1 to 1.5% of members in good standing for entities seeking section status.

Standing Board Policy 5.58 Section Minimum Membership Requirement.

Adds new standing board policy imposing continuing minimum membership and fund balance requirements.

5.57         Guidelines for Groups Seeking Section Status

(a) Petition.  Any group, organization or committee must petition the board for approval to become a section.  The petition must be filed with the executive director and include the following:

(1)     a statement of the basic purpose of the proposed section, including the specific areas of interest of the proposed section;

(2)     a statement demonstrating the need for the proposed section’s creation;

(3)     a statement showing the overlap, if any, existing between the proposed section's purpose and areas of interest and those of any current bar section or committee;

(4)     a list of initial officers, executive council members and proposed committees;

(5)     a list of proposed meeting dates for the executive council and committees for the initial year;

(6)     a set of proposed bylaws that comply with all applicable standing board policies;

(7)     a detailed budget of estimated income and expenses, containing a dues structure sufficient to generate at least $3,000.00 insufficient duesoperating, non-investment income to cover all identified events and activities and the section management fee that will be assessed based on identified proposed section activities for each of the first 3 years of operation;

(8)     a statement of the types of programs proposed and a specific proposal for programs for the year of establishment, including dates and the cost of the proposed programs; and

(9)     an estimate of how many bar members will join the proposed section within its first 3 years.

(b)     Signatures; Certification.  The petition will be signed by the chair-pro tempore, chair-elect and all members of the initial executive council; and certify that at least 1.5 percent of bar members in good standing have expressed an interest in joining the proposed section and paying the proposed dues.

5.58 Section Minimum Membership Requirement.

Each section must maintain membership equal to at least 1 percent of bar members in good standing and maintain a sufficient fund balance (net of already signed obligations) to cover the next fiscal year's bar management fees in any fiscal year. A section that does not meet these requirements by August 15 of any year has until February 15 of the following year to meet the requirements.  Failure to meet these requirements will result in the section automatically being sunset by the end of the fiscal year.

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