STAND. COM. REP. NO.902
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 1113
H.D. 1
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. 1113 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to enable the Department of Human Services (DHS) to better administer its assistance programs by clarifying that:
(1) The requirement that DHS file an annual update of its liens with the Bureau of Conveyances (Bureau) is an internal departmental accounting measure intended to track DHS expenditures, and is not intended to burden the Bureau to record the same lien against the same property year after year;
(2) DHS may initiate probate proceedings to enforce a lien against the estate of a recipient; and
(3) Recording and tracking procedures may apply to both types of DHS liens, specifically real estate liens on the interest of:
(a) A person applying for or receiving DHS assistance; and
(b) A medical assistance recipient who is an inpatient of a medical institution.
DHS testified in support of this measure.
Your Committee finds that as the number of liens held by DHS increases, the clerical burden placed upon DHS and the Bureau to update the lien amounts, prepare notices of lien, and then file and record the liens is becoming an unreasonable, time consuming burden. This measure will reduce the clerical burden.
Your Committee notes that two crucial measures related to DHS were heard earlier this session, and your Committee would like to incorporate these measures into this bill.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Inserting an appropriation for respite care services;
(2) Inserting a provision which creates a welfare safety net program called, "Keeping Hope Alive;" and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
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. 1113, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1113, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Housing,
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____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair |
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