STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 632-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 1841
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1841 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Increase the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel and guardian ad litem; and
(2) Appropriate funds to the Judiciary for the purchase of service contracts, guardian ad litem contracts, and court-appointed counsel contracts.
Your Committee finds that guardians ad litem perform a critical role in many family court cases, including child abuse and neglect cases, involuntary hospitalization proceedings, and assisted community treatment proceedings. The subjects of these proceedings are among the most vulnerable members of the State and are frequently unable to advocate for themselves. This measure will attract and retain competent individuals to act as a guardian ad litem to represent those who cannot advocate for themselves.
Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying a rate of $75 an hour for all services provided by a person who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the State as a guardian ad litem.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1841, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1841, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair |
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