Page 640

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 640 of 739

the proceeds received by such person after payment of all expenses connected with the cause of action, whichever is less, for repayment under said section, and shall have priority over all other claims, including any lien of the state for repayment of public assistance, except (1) attorney's fees for the cause of action, (2) expenses of suit, (3) costs of hospitalization connected with the cause of action by whomever paid over and above hospital insurance or other such benefits, and, for such period of hospitalization as was not paid for by the state, physicians' fees for services during any such period as are connected with the cause of action over and above medical insurance or other such benefits, (4) child support obligations [pursuant to subsection (d) of section 17b-93] collected by the state in accordance with subsection (a) of section 17b- 265 and section 52-362d, (5) restitution or payment of compensation to a crime victim ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, and (6) payment of a civil judgment rendered in favor of a crime victim by a court of competent jurisdiction; and such claim shall consist of the total amount of the costs of incarceration under section 18-85a and regulations adopted in accordance with said section. The proceeds of such causes of action shall be assignable to the state for payment of the amount due under section 18-85a, and regulations adopted in accordance with said section, irrespective of any other provision of law. The state’s lien shall constitute an irrevocable direction to the attorney for such person to pay the Commissioner of Correction or the commissioner's designee in accordance with its terms, except if, after written notice from the attorney for such person informing the commissioner or the commissioner's designee of the settlement of the cause of action or judgment thereon and requesting the amount of the lien to be paid to the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee does not inform such attorney of the amount of the state’s lien within forty-five days of receipt of the written request of such attorney for such information, such attorney may distribute such proceeds to such person and shall not be liable for any loss the state may sustain thereby.