§346-13  Attendance and testimony ofwitnesses.  (a)  In all hearings or investigations conducted by orinitiated at the request of the director of human services or the director'sdesignated subordinate with respect to all matters reasonably related to departmentfunctions and programs, the director or the director's designated subordinateshall have the same powers respecting the administering of oaths, compellingthe attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, documents, orobjects deemed relevant to the investigation or inquiry, and examining orcausing to be examined witnesses as are possessed by a circuit court and maytake depositions and certify to official acts.  Books, papers, documents, orobjects obtained pursuant to such an investigation or inquiry may be retainedby the director or the director's designated subordinate for a reasonableperiod of time for the purpose of examination, audit, copying, testing, orphotographing.  The circuit courts upon application by any of such officersshall have power to enforce by proper proceedings the attendance and testimonyof any witnesses so subpoenaed and the production of books, papers, documents,or objects.  Subpoena and witness fees and mileage in such cases shall be thesame as in criminal cases in the circuit court.  Necessary expenses of or inconnection with the hearings or investigations shall be payable from the fundsappropriated for expenses of the department of human services.

(b)  Upon the written request of the directorof human services or a designated subordinate, a financial institution,including but not limited to banks, savings and loan associations, and creditunions, shall furnish the records of accounts, deposits, and withdrawals of anyapplicant for or recipient of public assistance.  Notwithstanding any other lawto the contrary, the director shall require every applicant for publicassistance to furnish written consent to authorize any financial institution tofurnish the records of accounts, deposits, and withdrawals of such applicant. The director at the time of making a written request for information, shallprovide to the financial institution written certification that the applicantfor or recipient of public assistance has furnished such written consent.  Thedirector shall pay a reasonable fee to each such institution, not to exceed theactual cost of providing the information requested. [L 1941, c 296, §1(9); RL1945, §4809; RL 1955, §107-9; HRS §346-13; am L 1973, c 31, pt of §21; am L1978, c 105, §4; am L 1984, c 197, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1987, c 339, §4]