AB275: Bill Text

LRB-2410/1

PJH:jld

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 275

June 29, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Kessler, Wachs, C. Taylor, Mason, Hebl, Subeck and Ohnstad, cosponsored by Senators C. Larson, Lassa and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AB275,1,3 An Act to amend 977.08 (4m) (c); and to create 977.08 (4m) (d) of the statutes; relating to: increasing the rate paid to private attorneys for representing indigent clients.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill increases the hourly rate the state public defender (SPD) pays to private attorneys.

Under current law, the SPD provides legal representation for indigent persons in criminal, delinquency, and certain related cases. The SPD assigns cases either to staff attorneys or to local private attorneys. Generally, a private attorney who is assigned a case by the SPD is paid $40 per hour for time spent related to the case and $25 per hour for time spent in travel in certain situations.

This bill increases to $85 per hour the amount a private attorney is paid for time spent related to the case.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB275,1 Section 1. 977.08 (4m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB275,2,8 977.08 (4m) (c) Unless otherwise provided by a rule promulgated under s. 977.02 (7r) or by a contract authorized under sub. (3) (f), for cases assigned on or after July 29, 1995, and before the effective date of the paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], private local attorneys shall be paid $40 per hour for time spent related to a case, excluding travel, and $25 per hour for time spent in travel related to a case if any portion of the trip is outside the county in which the attorney's principal office is located or if the trip requires traveling a distance of more than 30 miles, one way, from the attorney's principal office.

AB275,2 Section 2. 977.08 (4m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB275,2,17 977.08 (4m) (d) Unless otherwise provided by a rule promulgated under s. 977.02 (7r) or by a contract authorized under sub. (3) (f), for cases assigned on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], private local attorneys shall be paid $85 per hour for time spent related to a case, excluding travel, and $25 per hour for time spent in travel related to a case if any portion of the trip is outside the county in which the attorney's principal office is located or if the trip requires traveling a distance of more than 30 miles, one way, from the attorney's principal office.

AB275,2,18 (End)