STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3107

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1913

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1913, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in family court proceedings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii State Bar Association, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys play critical roles in family court cases. However, the pool of individuals who are willing and able to serve as guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys is small. Your Committee further finds that although the Judiciary has taken steps to recruit more guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys, the need is still significant, and unless the number of individuals who are willing and able to serve as guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys increases, cases will be delayed. This measure will increase the pool of qualified individuals willing and able to serve as guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys by increasing the rates at which the Judiciary may compensate guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,500,000 for the purchase of service contracts, guardian ad litem contracts, and court-appointed counsel contracts pursuant to chapter 571, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Making it effective on July 1, 2024.

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 H.B. No. 1913, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1913, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair