On behalf of the NACTT, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee Nancy Whaley (Atlanta, GA) attended the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules meeting on March 30th. As you may recall at the Rule’s Committee Fall meeting, the Committee passed the Official Plan Form and associated rules except for Rule 3015 and 3015.1. These rules permit Districts to opt out of using the Official Form after meeting certain criteria of having adopted a local plan. At the meeting on the 30th, the Committee unanimously passed Rules 3015 and 3015.1. The rules will be re-published for comment on an expedited manner. They will recommend a three month comment period beginning in May 2016 with one day for hearings. If all goes according to plan, the new rules and plan will be published in May of 2017 with an effective date of December 2017. Click here for the Committee notes that were made available prior to this meeting.

On behalf of the consumer bankruptcy community, many thanks to Jon M. Waage, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa), for his tireless work as a consultant to the sub-committee on forms.