At press time the Senate was continuing its debate of the FY16
budget. They have already taken up a number of amendments of
importance to the legal community. Efforts to increase compensation
rates for assigned private counsel in the Senate budget were not
successful. Focus now turns to the Conference Committee, which will
be appointed from both the House of Representatives and the Senate
in the coming days to reach a compromised spending plan for
FY16.
Last month's House budget included MBA sponsored language
raising bar advocate pay in the District and Juvenile Courts
effective July 1, 2016. Under the House measure, those rates would
be raised from $50 to $53 for those privately appointed
practitioners. Those handling Children and Family Law Cases and
Care and Protection work would see an hourly rate increase from $50
to $55.
Through our work with our partners at the Equal Justice
Coalition and the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Legal
Assistance Corporation (MLAC) was successful in getting an
additional $2.1 million in funding from the original Senate Ways
and Means proposal, bringing Senate funding to $17.1 million, just
$100,000 more than the House appropriation of $17 million. The MBA
will voice its support for the $17.1 million with the Conference
Committee.
As previously reported, the Senate allocated $633 million to the
Trial Court - an increase that surpasses the court's $628 million
maintenance request and would eliminate the need for Trial Court
layoffs and program reductions. The House appropriated $622.5
million for the Trial Court.
Since the release of budget proposals by both Gov. Charlie Baker
and the House Ways and Means Committee, the MBA has been proactive
in advocating for increased funding for the Trial Court,
compensation for assigned private counsel and funding for MLAC. The
MBA will continue to do advocate for these measures throughout the
budget process.