(a) Whenever a government entity seeks reimbursement of search and rescue expenses, including expenses paid or owing to private persons or entities by the government entity, in connection with a search and rescue, the government entity may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction; provided the reimbursement sought shall not in any case exceed the total cost incurred for the search and rescue operation.

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 137-3

  • Government entity: means any department, unit, or agency, of the federal, state, or county governments. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 137-1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Search and rescue expenses: include the following expenses incident to, and incurred by, a government entity or any person or private entity in a search or rescue operation:

    (1) Any and all actual hourly wages, salaries, and employment-related benefits, of persons participating in a search or rescue operation;

    (2) Any and all equipment costs, including rental, lease, use, repair, and/or replacement costs of equipment used in a search or rescue operation;

    (3) Any and all fuel expenses incident to a search or rescue operation;

    (4) Any and all other expenses relating to a search and rescue operation. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 137-1

(b) This chapter is not intended to restrict or diminish the right of any government entity to settle or compromise its rights provided in this chapter.

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