REPORT TITLE:
Impact Litigation Unit

DESCRIPTION:
Establishes an impact litigation unit in the office of the
Attorney General.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1943
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Chapter 28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 2 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 3 read as follows:
 
 4      "§28-   Impact litigation unit. (a)  There is established in
 
 5 the department of the attorney general an impact litigation unit.
 
 6 The impact litigation unit shall consist of attorneys and other
 
 7 specialized personnel who are in private practice.  The attorney
 
 8 general, within reason, shall provide staffing, office equipment
 
 9 work areas, and supplies as needed. The attorney general shall
 
10 contract with private attorneys to provide legal services
 
11 relating to the investigation, prosecution, and defense of claims
 
12 against the State that in the attorney general's opinion impose a
 
13 substantial financial liability or hardship on the State.
 
14      (b)  Rates of compensation of attorneys or specialists shall
 
15 be set at the attorney general's discretion and may be set on a
 
16 fixed-price, hourly, or fixed cap basis.
 
17      (c)  The attorney general shall approve of all major
 
18 litigation strategies and  shall approve and submit to the
 

 
Page 2                                                     1943
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 governor and legislature for review all settlements negotiated by
 
 2 the impact litigation unit on behalf of the State."
 
 3      SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 4 New statutory material is underscored.
 
 5      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 6 
 
 7                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________