STAND. COM. REP. NO.3207

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2563

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2563, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF CRIME VICTIMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the allowable compensation awarded by the Crime Victim Compensation Commission to crime victims for medical expenses.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Authorizes an award up to the lower of $20,000 or the actual compensable medical expenses, in instances in which the compensable medical expenses are in excess of $10,000; and

(2) Clarifies that, in determining the amount of compensable medical expense to be awarded, the Commission is required to deduct amounts or benefits as provided under section 351-63, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee notes that the vast majority of states have higher compensation award ceilings than presently allowed by Hawaii law. These range from $15,000 to a high of $150,000 in Washington State, with no statutory ceiling imposed in New York. In contrast, only eight states, including Hawaii, have a $10,000 award ceiling. Furthermore, the State's present compensation award ceiling of $10,000 is woefully inadequate to address cases involving catastrophic medical care. Accordingly, your Committee finds that the ceiling should be raised in cases involving compensable medical expenses that are in excess of $10,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2563, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair