STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2804

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2715

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2715 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 measure is to clarify the compensation rates for court‑appointed attorneys and guardians ad litem in family court.

     The Judiciary submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure replaces the terms "legal services" and "non‑legal services" with "in‑court services" and "out‑of‑court services."  The measure also provides that an attorney who is licensed to practice in Hawaii will receive $90 an hour compensation for in‑court services and $60 an hour compensation for out‑of‑court compensation.  All services provided by a person who is not an attorney licensed to practice in Hawaii will be compensated at $60 an hour.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 2715, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2715, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair