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Minutes for HB2363 - Committee on Ways and Means
Short Title
Increasing the maximum rate paid to appointed counsel.
Minutes Content for Wed, Apr 7, 2021
Chairperson Billinger opened the hearing on HB 2363. Chris Waggoner, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Heather Cessna, Executive Director, Board of Indigents' Defense Services, spoke in support of the bill. The current rate of $80 per hour for assigned counsel was set fifteen years ago. Low hourly rates deter counsel from joining or staying on assigned counsel panels because they are not paid sufficiently. This is part of the three-phased plan to improve pay for those providing counsel for indigent clients. Ms. Cessna responded to questions from Committee members. (Attachment 2)
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by:
Joe Molina, Kansas Bar Association (Attachment 3)
Kate Zigtema, Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. (Attachment 4)
There being no further conferees, Chairperson Billinger closed the hearing on HB 2363.
