STAND. COM. REP. 1037

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1132

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1132, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the authority of the Judiciary to contract for professional services for court-appointed guardians ad litem and counsel in accordance with the state Procurement Code and based on rates established by statute.

The Judiciary testified in support of this measure and offered an amendment.

Your Committee finds that existing law permits the Judiciary to set reasonable rates of compensation and this bill clarifies the authority of the Judiciary to contract for professional services. Your Committee further finds that it is necessary for the Judiciary to have the flexibility to set reasonable rates of compensation in order to balance budget restrictions with obtaining qualified persons to serve as guardians ad litem and counsel.

Your Committee has amended this bill by replacing the Senate language with the language originally proposed by the Judiciary permitting the Judiciary to set reasonable rates of compensation when it contracts for services. This amendment reflects the language of H.B. 813 with a technical, nonsubstantive amendment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1132, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1132,

S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair