STAND. COM. REP. NO. 546

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1121
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1121 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUNSET CLAUSE IN ACT 128,
     SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1997,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to repeal the sunset provision
for Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill
from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health,
and the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

     Your Committee finds that this bill allows the state to
continue to receive federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families and food stamp benefits for individuals convicted of
substance abuse felonies who are complying with treatment
requirements by eliminating the sunset provision currently
contained in Act 128.

     Your Committee further finds that substance abuse treatment
programs and the dependent families of convicted substance
abusers depend on cash assistance and food stamps.  Failure to
provide these benefits could cost Hawaii in terms of lost
treatment opportunities, an increase in crime, homelessness, and
could impose a greater burden on the State's general assistance
and social service programs.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 546
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1121 and recommends that it be referred to
the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair