HOUSE BILL NO. 4489

April 23, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Bellino, Iden, Warren, LaGrand, Gay-Dagnogo and Sowerby and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

"Revised judicature act of 1961,"

by amending section 934 (MCL 600.934), as amended by 2004 PA 558.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 934. (1) A person An individual is qualified for admission to the bar of this state who if he or she proves to the satisfaction of the board of law examiners that he or she is a person an individual of good moral character, is 18 years of age or older, has the required general education, learning in the law, and fitness and ability to enable him or her to practice law in the courts of record of this state, and that he or she intends in good faith to practice or teach law in this state. Additional requirements concerning the qualifications for admission are contained in subsequent sections of this chapter. As used in this subsection, "good moral character" means good moral character as defined and determined under 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47.For purposes of this subsection, good moral character is determined by the board of law examiners and 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47, does not apply to that determination.

(2) A person An individual may elect to use the multi-state bar examination scaled score that the person he or she achieved on a multi-state bar examination administered in another state or territory when applying for admission to the bar of this state, but only if all of the following occur:are met:

(a) The score that the person individual elects to use was achieved on a multi-state examination administered within the 3 years immediately preceding the multi-state bar examination in this state for which the person individual would otherwise sit.

(b) The person individual achieved a passing grade on the bar examination of which the multi-state examination the score of which the person individual elects to use was a part.

(c) The multi-state examination the score of which the person individual elects to use was administered in a state or territory that accords the provides a reciprocal right to elect to use the score achieved on the multi-state examination administered in this state to Michigan residents who are seeking admission to the bar of that state or territory.

(d) The person individual earns a grade on the essay portion of the bar examination that when combined with the transferred multi-state scaled score constitutes a passing grade for that bar examination.

(e) The person individual otherwise meets all requirements for admission to the bar of this state.

(3) The state board of law examiners shall disclose to a person electing an individual who elects under subsection (2) to transfer the multi-state bar examination scaled score achieved on an examination administered in another state or territory the score the person individual achieved as soon as that score is received by the board regardless of whether the person individual could have obtained that score in the jurisdiction in which the examination was administered. This subsection does not require disclosure by the board of the score achieved on a multi-state bar examination administered in another state or territory until the scores achieved on that examination administered in Michigan are released.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4488(request no. 00446'19) of the 100th Legislature is enacted into law.