STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3699

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1914

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1914, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT‑APPOINTED COUNSEL,"

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 in criminal proceedings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Hawaii State Bar Association, and ACLU of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the increased rate of compensation in this measure will assist the Judiciary in recruiting and maintaining qualified and experienced counsel to be appointed in criminal proceedings statewide.

Your Committee notes that this measure, as received by your Committee, appropriated $2,500,000 for the increased rate of compensation provided by the measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $2,500,000 to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 1914, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1914, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair