(A)  Establishment:  The New Hampshire Supreme Court hereby establishes a state-wide lawyer assistance program to be known as the New Hampshire Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP), which shall provide immediate and continuing help to members of the legal profession, including, without limitation, active or prospective lawyers and judges, regardless of their status, and law students (members of the legal profession) who are affected by any physical or mental health condition that affects their ability to practice their profession, quality of life, or study of law.

   (B)  Purpose:  LAP has four primary purposes:

        (1) To protect the interests of clients and the general public from harm caused by impaired members of the legal profession;

        (2) To assist impaired members of the legal profession to begin and continue recovery,

        (3) To educate the bench, the bar, and the public to the causes of and remedies for impairments affecting members of the legal profession; and

        (4) To develop programs that emphasize prevention of conditions that might negatively affect members of the legal profession.

   (C)  Funding and Administration:

        (1) The court shall annually assess a sum to be paid by all dues-paying members of the New Hampshire Bar Association, except those members exempted by order of the court, to fund the LAP.

        (2) LAP shall seek to establish additional private and public sources of funding.

        (3) Funding for LAP may also include gifts or bequests from any source and earnings on investments of the LAP fund.

        (4) The fiscal year of LAP shall run from July 1 to June 30.

        (5) LAP may retain and invest its funds which may be carried over to future fiscal years.