§346-13  Attendance and testimony of
witnesses.  (a)  In all hearings or investigations conducted by or
initiated at the request of the director of human services or the director's
designated subordinate with respect to all matters reasonably related to department
functions and programs, the director or the director's designated subordinate
shall have the same powers respecting the administering of oaths, compelling
the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, documents, or
objects deemed relevant to the investigation or inquiry, and examining or
causing to be examined witnesses as are possessed by a circuit court and may
take depositions and certify to official acts.  Books, papers, documents, or
objects obtained pursuant to such an investigation or inquiry may be retained
by the director or the director's designated subordinate for a reasonable
period of time for the purpose of examination, audit, copying, testing, or
photographing.  The circuit courts upon application by any of such officers
shall have power to enforce by proper proceedings the attendance and testimony
of any witnesses so subpoenaed and the production of books, papers, documents,
or objects.  Subpoena and witness fees and mileage in such cases shall be the
same as in criminal cases in the circuit court.  Necessary expenses of or in
connection with the hearings or investigations shall be payable from the funds
appropriated for expenses of the department of human services.



(b)  Upon the written request of the director
of human services or a designated subordinate, a financial institution,
including but not limited to banks, savings and loan associations, and credit
unions, shall furnish the records of accounts, deposits, and withdrawals of any
applicant for or recipient of public assistance.  Notwithstanding any other law
to the contrary, the director shall require every applicant for public
assistance to furnish written consent to authorize any financial institution to
furnish the records of accounts, deposits, and withdrawals of such applicant. 
The director at the time of making a written request for information, shall
provide to the financial institution written certification that the applicant
for or recipient of public assistance has furnished such written consent.  The
director shall pay a reasonable fee to each such institution, not to exceed the
actual cost of providing the information requested. [L 1941, c 296, §1(9); RL
1945, §4809; RL 1955, §107-9; HRS §346-13; am L 1973, c 31, pt of §21; am L
1978, c 105, §4; am L 1984, c 197, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1987, c 339, §4]