The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), together with the States’ Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys (SABA), held their annual seminar, “Bankruptcy From a Governmental Perspective”, on October 6 – 9, 2013, in Santa Fe New Mexico.  The conference was held under the auspices of the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute (NAGTRI).  Government attorneys and practitioners from across the country were treated to New Mexico hospitality, and it was a great opportunity for both “beginners,” as well as more seasoned bankruptcy attorneys, to learn about the Bankruptcy Code, and how bankruptcy impacts all aspects of state and local governments. 

Also in Santa Fe that week – on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 – the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11 (the “ABI Commission”) held one of its field hearings that the Commission is conducting around the country to hear and collect testimony on various bankruptcy issues.  The charge of the ABI Commission is to study the need for comprehensive chapter 11 bankruptcy reform.  In the series of field hearings, selected topics are examined.  In Santa Fe, in conjunction with the NAAG/SABA conference, the field hearing was specifically on the topic of bankruptcy policies critical to governmental entities.  Several members of NAAG/SABA addressed the ABI commissioners, discussing issues of enforcement of the police power, the priority of environment, tax and other claims, to mention just a few topics. 

You can access the materials submitted to the ABI Commission, by the NAAG/SABA speakers at the Santa Fe field hearing, and obtain information on upcoming field hearings, at http://commission.abi.org/