Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 384, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the hourly rate paid to court-appointed attorneys.

This measure also increases the maximum fees allowed for court-appointed attorneys in designated classes of court proceedings.

Your Committee understands that the hourly rates paid to court-appointed attorneys have remained the same since 1987. Consequently, it is increasingly difficult to retain competent representation for indigent defendants. A fee increase is needed to prevent adverse impact to the rights of criminal defendants to adequate representation and to promote effectiveness and efficiency in the administration of justice.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(3) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 384, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 384, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.