How to Get Involved with the ABI Consumer Commission

As Jason Kilborn noted last month, the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) has formed a Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy. More information about the Commission is available on its web site including the unfortunate news that it got saddled with me as the reporter. We very much invite input and suggestions about the Commission's work. Right now is an especially good time to get involved as the Commission sets its agenda.

The ABI has charged the Commission with "researching and recommending improvements to the consumer bankruptcy system that can be implemented within its existing structure. These changes might include amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, changes to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, administrative rules or actions, recommendations on proper interpretations of existing law and other best practices that judges, trustees and lawyers can implement."

Our first public meeting is during the 2017 annual meeting for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) in Orlando, Florida. Anyone is invited to make a a request to make a statement during the meeting, which will be held on Saturday, May 6 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. in Oceanic Room 1 of the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel. To make a request, you can email the Commission at [email protected]. You are strongly encouraged also to submit a written statement. More information about making a public statement to the Commission is available here.

The Commission also welcomes written statements. Right now, you can submit suggestions for topics the Commission should study by going to the Commission web site. In the upper-right, click on the link that says "Submit Topic" and, well . . . submit a topic. The link will take you to a page where you can suggest a topic and elaborate on why it is important. Any topic suggestions submitted there will be forward along to the relevant committees of the Commission.