Bill > SB263

This bill increases compensation rates for court-appointed counsel in Hawaii by raising the hourly rate from $90 to $150 and significantly increasing the maximum allowable fees across different types of legal proceedings. Specifically, the bill raises maximum fees for felony cases from $6,000 to $12,000, misdemeanor jury trials from $3,000 to $6,000, misdemeanor jury-waived cases from $1,500 to $3,000, appeals from $5,000 to $9,000, petty misdemeanor cases from $900 to $1,800, and other administrative or judicial proceedings from $3,000 to $6,000. The bill allows courts to approve payments exceeding these maximums if the administrative judge certifies that additional compensation is necessary to provide fair compensation. To support these increased rates, the bill appropriates funds from general state revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, to be administered by the department of budget and finance. The purpose of these changes is to ensure fair compensation for court-appointed attorneys who provide legal representation to defendants who cannot afford private counsel, with the goal of maintaining the quality and availability of legal defense services.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=263&year=2025