Existing law, the State Bar Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California, a public corporation. The act imposes various requirements and limits on the ownership of a lawyer referral service. Existing law imposes a civil penalty, as defined, for a violation of those provisions, to be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in accordance with certain procedures. Existing law defines that civil penalty by referencing certain other provisions, including, among others, a section that provides for a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500 for each violation, as specified.

This bill would delete the above-described reference to that code section.