Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1108, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow county medical examiners and coroners to apply for funeral payments under the Department of Human Services' (DHS) Funeral Payment Program on behalf of an unclaimed corpse after 60 days have lapsed since the date of death.

DHS testified in strong support of this measure.

The current statute requires an application for funeral assistance to be submitted within 60 days of the date of death. Your Committee finds that there are often instances where more than 60 days have lapsed when a county medical examiner or coroner either locates remains, identifies a decedent, or completes the administrative process of locating surviving family members. This measure would exempt county medical examiners and coroners from the 60-day time limit.

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. 1108, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.