STAND. COM. REP. NO. 873-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

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




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to clarify that in third-party
liability situations, and the Department of Human Services (DHS)
prosecutes its own claims, intervenes or joins in any action, or
actively participates with a claimant or claimant's attorney in
the prosecution of claims, DHS shall be allowed to recover its
attorney fees and costs in addition to its reimbursement rights,
claims, or liens provided by law.

     DHS testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 873-00
                                 Page 2

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair