STAND. COM. REP. NO.  57-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2698

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2698 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL AND GUARDIANS AD LITEM IN FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to update the law pertaining to fees for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem by:

     (1)  Changing the terms "legal" and "non-legal" to "in-court" and "out-of-court", respectively; and

     (2)  Clarifying the fee structure to indicate that:

          (A)  Licensed attorneys be paid $90 per hour for in- court services;

          (B)  Licensed attorneys be paid $60 per hour for     providing out-of-court services; and

          (C)  Non attorneys be paid $60 per hour for providing     either in-court or out-of-court services.

     The Judiciary testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2698, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2698, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair