Report Title:

Family Court; Court-Appointed Fact Finders; Fee Schedule

Description:

Establishes a fee schedule for court-appointed fact finders to assist family court judges in determining child custody and visitation arrangements.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

551

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to family court.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 571, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part VIII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§571-   Court-appointed fact finders; compensation. (a) When a court-appointed fact finder is appointed by the court pursuant to section 571-46, the court-appointed fact finder shall receive reasonable compensation for services rendered. The amount of compensation shall be determined by the court pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) The court shall determine the amount of reasonable compensation for a court-appointed fact finder, based on the rate of $           an hour for out-of-court services and the rate of $           for in-court services with a total maximum fee of $          .

(c) Prior to submitting a request for compensation that exceeds any maximum amount provided for under subsection (b), the court-appointed fact finder shall provide notice and the following information to the court and the parties:

(1) A detailed summary of all expenses accumulated and services rendered prior to the request; and

(2) A detailed explanation for payments in excess of the amounts provided for under subsection (b).

(d) Payments in excess of the amounts provided for under subsection (b) may be made if the court in which the services were rendered certifies that the amount of excess payment is necessary to provide reasonable compensation. The court shall make this determination based upon the complexity of the case and the experience of the court-appointed fact finder."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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