Amendment #753 to H3600

Billable Hours for Private Assigned Counsel

Ms. Cronin of Easton moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XXXX.  Section 11 of chapter 211D of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 16 of chapter 283 of the acts of 2016, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following new subsection:-

(d) Notwithstanding the billable hour limitations in subsections (b) and (c), the chief counsel of the committee may waive the annual cap on billable hours for private counsel appointed or assigned to indigent cases if the chief counsel finds that: (i) there is limited availability of qualified counsel in that practice area; (ii) there is limited availability of qualified counsel in a geographic area; or (iii) increasing the limit would improve efficiency and quality of service; provided, however, that counsel appointed or assigned to such cases within the private counsel division may bill up to but not more than 2,000 billable hours.  It shall be the responsibility of private counsel to manage their billable hours.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #753 to H3600

Billable Hours for Private Assigned Counsel