The bill establishes a Rural Attorney Recruitment Pilot Program aimed at addressing the shortage of attorneys in rural Wyoming counties. It outlines eligibility requirements for counties, which must have a population of no more than 25,000 and an average of 1.5 qualified attorneys per 1,000 residents. The program will be administered by the Wyoming State Bar, which will assess county needs and maintain a list of eligible counties. Participating counties must agree to provide a share of incentive payments to attorneys, who will receive financial support in exchange for committing to practice law full-time in the county for at least five years.

The bill also specifies the funding structure for the incentive payments, which will be divided among the Supreme Court, participating counties, and the Wyoming State Bar. It includes provisions for annual reporting on the program's activities and establishes a sunset date of June 30, 2029, for the program, with a requirement that participating attorneys complete their obligations and receive payments even after the program's termination. An appropriation of $197,375 from the general fund is allocated for the program, which will be effective starting July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33-5-201, 33-5-202