Lawmakers push big change in rules for agency that oversees California lawyers

New amendments in the State Bar of California’s annual dues bill are intended to bring more sunshine to its operations. Unlike other state licensing agencies that operate under the executive branch, the bar is part of the state's judiciary and is not subject to open-records and open-meeting laws that apply to other state boards. Senate Bill 387 was amended Friday to require the bar to comply with the Public Records Act and the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, with some privacy exceptions. The bill…