STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1135

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 398

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in Family Court proceedings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Human Services; Office of the Public Defender; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform; The Law Office of Aaron K. Willis, LLLC; West Hawaiʻi Bar Association; Hawaii State Bar Association; Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi; and seven individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair