165:20-a Settlement of Disputes. –
I. In any case where a town, city, county or the state seeks to recover a sum spent on assistance to a person and there is a dispute between a town, city, county or the state as to the liability for such assistance, the voluntary arbitration system established by this section shall be available.
II. The department of health and human services shall maintain a roster of the selectmen and welfare administrators of the cities, towns, and counties of the state. If a town, city, county or the state decides to avail itself of the voluntary arbitration system, the commissioner of the department of health and human services or his designee shall randomly select a panel of 3 persons from the roster to arbitrate the dispute. No selectman or welfare administrator shall serve on any panel resolving a dispute concerning his own city, town or county.
III. Any such voluntary arbitration session shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the commissioner of health and human services.
IV. The costs of such voluntary arbitration shall be equally divided between the town, city, county or the state involved in the dispute.
V. Any town, city, county or the state choosing the forum of the voluntary arbitration system shall lose the right to litigate the issue, and the decision of the panel of arbitrators shall be final.