STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1902

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 356

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 356, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the Comptroller's settlement authority for tort and automobile claims to $25,000.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committees find that the Department of the Attorney General handles claims that are above the Risk Management Office's settlement and payment authority. This measure will increase the settlement authority of the Risk Management Office to $25,000 and subsequently reduce the number of cases assigned to the Attorney General, thereby promoting settlement, which is often a more efficient use of state resources.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 356, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair