STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1491_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 239
                                     H.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 239 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HUMAN SERVICES TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF DECREASED FUNDING
     TO RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Department of Human Services (DHS) to examine the effects of
decreased funding to public assistance recipients implemented as
part of Hawaii's welfare reform program.

     Your Committee finds that as public assistance benefits
decrease, it is important that the real effects upon those
affected be ascertained on an ongoing basis so that appropriate
policies are implemented.

     The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the
National Association of Social Workers, and several individuals
testified in support of this measure.  The American Friends
Service Committee supported the intent of the measure.  DHS
opposed the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Providing that the DHS work in conjunction with public
          assistance recipients, social workers, and the
          University of Hawaii at Manoa to prepare the
          evaluation;

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1491_______
                                 Page 2

 

     (2)  Specifying that a preliminary and final report be
          submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days
          prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2000
          and 2001, respectively; and

     (3)  Directing that certified copies of the measure be
          transmitted to the President of the University of
          Hawaii, the Program Coordinator of the American Friends
          Service Committee, Hawaii Area Program, and the
          Executive Director of the National Association of
          Social Workers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 239, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto
as H.C.R. No. 239, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair