On April 14, the House Ways and Means Committee released its FY22 budget recommendation, H. 4000. The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) is working with the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to ensure that private counsel (bar advocates) working under the CPCS banner are compensated fairly for their essential work. As part of these efforts, House Judiciary Chairman Michael Day filed an amendment to this bill (Amendment #1109) seeking additional funding for the private counsel line item (0321-1510) and to enact the three-step rate increase for all private counsel matters. To view the proposed three-year increase, see this chart.
The MBA is committed to amplifying the voices of the private bar to fully explain just how critical the need is for a meaningful rate increase. Please contact your House representative to convey your support for Amendment #1109 and to ask your local representative to become a co-sponsor of the amendment with Chairman Day. If you need assistance finding your local legislator’s contact information, click here.
The next step in the budget process is the full House debate and vote on acceptance of the committee’s proposal, before it is sent to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.