Section 211D:11 - Compensation rates; limitation of annual billable hours payable; limitation on new appointments(a) The rates of compensation payable to all counsel, who are appointed or assigned to represent indigents within the private counsel division of the committee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of section 6, shall, subject to appropriation, be as follows: for homicide cases the rate of compensation shall be $120 per hour; for superior court non-homicide cases, including sexually dangerous person cases, the rate of compensation shall be $85 per hour; for district court cases and children in need of services cases the rate of compensation shall be $65 per hour; for children and family law cases and care and protection cases the rate of compensation shall be $85 per hour; for sex offender registry cases and mental health cases the rate of compensation shall be $65 per hour. These rates of compensation shall be reviewed periodically at public hearings held by the committee at appropriate locations throughout the state, and notice shall be given to all state, county and local bar associations and other interested groups, of such hearings by letter and publication in advance of such hearings. This periodic review shall take place not less than once every 3 years.(b) The committee shall set an annual cap on billable hours not in excess of 1,650 hours. Counsel appointed or assigned to represent indigents within the private counsel division shall not be paid for any time billed in excess of the annual limit of billable hours. It shall be the responsibility of private counsel to manage their billable hours.(c) Notwithstanding the billable hour limitation in subsection (b), 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 shall not be paid for any time billed in excess of 2,000 billable hours. It shall be the responsibility of private counsel to manage their billable hours.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 211D, § 11
Amended by Acts 2022 , c. 126, §§ 96, 97, 98, 99, 100 eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by Acts 2021 , c. 24, §§ 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by Acts 2020 , c. 227, § 53, eff. 12/11/2020.Amended by Acts 2018 , c. 154, §§ 49, 50 eff. 7/1/2018.Amended by Acts 2016 , c. 283, § 16, eff. 10/6/2016.Amended by Acts 2016 , c. 133, § 119, eff. 7/1/2016.Amended by Acts 2011 , c. 68, § 115, eff. 7/1/2011.Amended by Acts 2008 , c. 182, § 69, eff. 7/1/2008.Amended by Acts 2005 , c. 54, § 3, eff. 10/27/2005.