CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.182

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 384

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference to which was recommitted H.B. No. 384, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ATTORNEYS' FEES FOR COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill.

The purpose of this bill is to help ensure that indigent criminal defendants are represented by competent counsel by increasing the hourly rates and maximum fees for court-appointed attorneys. Specifically, this bill:

(1) Raises the hourly rate of compensation for appointed counsel to $90 for all services;

(2) Doubles the maximum allowable amounts in the current fee schedule for appointed counsel; and

(3) Clarifies the types of family court cases that are included in the maximum fee schedule.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the current statutory rates of compensation for court-appointed counsel were last amended in 1987, and that fee increases will assist the courts in attracting competent counsel to represent indigent defendants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 384, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Final Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Co-Chair

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

____________________________

SCOTT NISHIMOTO, Co-Chair