STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2351

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2857
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2857 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Department of
Human Services (DHS) a right of recovery for the amounts paid by
the DHS for attorney's fees and costs in pursuing recovery of
payment against the estate of a recipient.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the DHS.

     This measure applies if a decedent does not leave a
surviving spouse, child, father, mother, grandparent, step
parent, or any designated heir, and if the DHS prosecutes its own
claim, intervenes or joins in the action, or otherwise actively
participates with a claimant or claimant's attorney in the
prosecution of the claim.  This measure is intended to allow the
DHS to recoup its expenses in attempting to collect what is owed
to the State by law.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical,
nonsubstantive changes to reflect preferred drafting style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2351
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of S.B. No. 2857, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2857,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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