Bill > SB265

This bill increases compensation rates for court-appointed legal representatives in Hawaii's family court proceedings. Specifically, the legislation raises the hourly rate for attorneys from $90 to $150 per hour for both in-court and out-of-court services, and increases the rate for non-attorneys from $60 to $122 per hour. The bill also significantly increases the maximum allowable fees for different types of cases: for predisposition cases under chapters 587A and 346, the maximum fee increases from $3,000 to $5,500, and for postdisposition review hearings, it increases from $1,000 to $2,000. Similarly, for cases under chapters 560, 571, 580, and 584, the maximum fee rises from $3,000 to $5,500. The bill maintains a provision allowing courts to approve payments exceeding these maximums in extraordinary circumstances, ensuring fair compensation for legal representatives. These changes aim to provide more appropriate compensation for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem, potentially improving the quality and availability of legal representation in family court proceedings.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=265&year=2025