HB 1002 -- Tobacco Settlement Attorney Fees Co-Sponsors: Dempsey, Dolan, Levin, Bearden, Griesheimer, Naeger, Hanaway This bill establishes the Missouri Commission on Tobacco Attorney Fee Compensation to determine the compensation for attorneys contracted to work on the tobacco settlement. The commission will be made up of 2 members of the Missouri House of Representatives and 2 members of the Missouri Senate. It will conduct public hearings regarding each attorney's compensation. Attorneys must submit requests for payment to the commission by December 31, 2001. The commission will determine the compensation for each attorney and a payment schedule by July 1, 2002. The bill limits attorney compensation to $500 per hour. Attorneys must document hours worked and expenses incurred in the settlement agreement. Any member of the public may testify at the hearings and submit payment proposals for attorney fees. The Attorney General will represent all contracted attorneys in collecting money from the tobacco defendants earmarked for attorney fees. Attorneys may not seek payment for their services directly from tobacco defendants. The bill also establishes the Missouri Tobacco Settlement Attorney Fee Trust Fund. The State Treasurer will place all moneys received by the state for attorney fees in the tobacco settlement into the fund. The Office of Administration will make all receipts and expenditures of the fund available to the public via the Internet.Copyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives