HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3414        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3774

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul F. Tucker

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to a special commission on attorney-client fee disputes.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3414        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3774

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to a special commission on attorney-client fee disputes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

There shall be established a special legislative commission pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, to study best practices for the mediation of attorney-client fee disputes, which shall investigate and study the need for attorney-client fee dispute mediation services for residents of the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and who shall serve as co-chair of the commission, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who shall serve as co-chair of the commission, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the House minority leader; the commissioner of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, or a designee; the attorney general, or a designee; a representative to be appointed by the Massachusetts Bar Association; a representative of the community mediation centers, as defined in section 47 of chapter 75 of the General Laws, to be appointed by the Massachusetts office of public collaboration; and 1 person to be appointed by the Governor.

The commission shall study geographic areas of the commonwealth to determine the need for programs to address attorney-client fee disputes. The commission shall report to general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than December 31, 2021.