STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1480

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 398

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

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 and guardians ad litem in family court proceedings.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Human Services; Office of the Kauai County Clerk, Council Services Division; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii State Bar Association; and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that increasing the compensation for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in family court proceedings will help ensure qualified representation and access to justice for some of the State's most vulnerable residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 398, 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. 398, 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