STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1261
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.B. No. 638
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 638, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the Department of Human Services' annual update of liens with the Bureau of Conveyances is an internal departmental accounting measure, allow the Department of Human Services to initiate probate proceedings to enforce liens, and provide that recording and tracking procedures apply to both types of Department of Human Services liens.
Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Human Services.
Your Committee recognizes that as the number of liens held by the Department increases, the clerical burden placed upon the Department and the Bureau to update the lien amounts, prepare notices of lien, and then file and record the liens is becoming an unreasonable burden which devours countless hours of time. This measure will address these problems.
Your Committee has amended the measure by replacing its contents with the contents of S.B. No. 1113, H.D. 1, which:
(1) Clarifies the updating problem;
(2) Clarifies the distinction between the Department of Human Services' authority to require an agreement that future grants of assistance will constitute an agreement or lien against a claimant's interest in real property and the agreement or lien against real property where a claimant is an inpatient;
(3) Makes an appropriation for respite care services; and
(4) Establishes a welfare safety net program called, "Keeping Hope Alive."
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 of H.B. No. 638, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 638, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
|
____________________________ DAVID MATSUURA, Chair |
||