SB 23-227

Senate Bill 23-227 sets the hourly rate for attorneys who work with specific Colorado state offices, like those representing children or parents in legal cases, at $100 per hour starting from fiscal year 2023-24. The bill ensures that this rate will increase by no more than $5 each year until it reaches at least 75% of the federal standard for indigent defense attorneys. This new law was signed by the governor and will take effect on August 7, 2023. It affects contracted attorneys working with state agencies that provide legal representation to individuals who cannot afford their own lawyers.

Official Summary

The act creates a mechanism to set the hourly rate for attorney time for attorneys who contract with the office of alternate defense counsel, the office of the child's representative, or the office of the respondent parents' counsel. The rate for fiscal year 2023-24 is $100 per hour. The hourly rate must be increased annually by no more than $5 each year until it is at least 75% of the rate set in the federal "Criminal Justice Act Revision of 1986" for indigent representation in federal court. The hourly rate may be adjusted in subsequent fiscal years to maintain the hourly rate at or above 75% of the rate set in the federal "Criminal Justice Act Revision of 1986". APPROVED by Governor April 17, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes