STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1411-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 3123
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No.
3123, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the successful
transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency through a
benefits program for public assistance recipients by creating
within the Department of Human Services (DHS), a post-secondary
education benefits program called the Bridge to Hope Program
(Program) for heads of households in the Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF) Program.

     The University of Hawaii (UH), Hawaii State Commission on
the Status of Women, National Association of Social Workers,
Welfare and Employment Rights Coalition, Kokua Council, Hawaii
Area Program of the American Friends Service Committee, and
numerous individuals testified in support of the measure.  DHS
testified in support of the intent of the measure.

     Your Committee finds that there is a significant correlation
between education and a person's ability to earn income.
Therefore, to make a concerted effort to promote self-sufficiency
and move people off the welfare rolls and onto the State's
workforce, measures must be taken to facilitate education and
training while, at the same time, providing public assistance.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1411-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee believes that the bill, as received, may be
too restrictive in nature.  To provide a greater number of TANF
recipients with the ability to participate in the Program, your
Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Encouraging DHS, through the Financial Assistance
          Advisory Committee, to work in collaboration with UH to
          establish policies that encourage the pursuit and
          successful completion of higher education for single
          parents and their children to achieve a stable future;

     (2)  Deleting the requirement that DHS provide all TANF
          recipients who are not exempt from work requirements,
          the option of pursuing post-secondary education at the
          same time they are referred to the First-to-Work
          Program;

     (3)  Changing the requirements for single parents to receive
          assistance under the Program;

     (4)  Deleting provisions making Program participants
          eligible for child care, transportation assistance, and
          other support services;

     (5)  Changing the criteria that count toward a recipient's
          work requirement;

     (6)  Deleting the provision authorizing DHS to require
          additional or fewer hours of federally-defined work
          activities if DHS certifies that the State may not meet
          federal work participation rates after taking into
          account the caseload reduction credit;

     (7)  Deleting the requirement that DHS ensure that its
          activities under the bill be consistent with specified
          principles and goals;

     (8)  Making an appropriation for the Program, rather than
          expanding the Internship and Work Study Program to meet
          TANF program work requirements;

     (9)  Changing the appropriation amount to $1 to facilitate
          further discussion;

    (10)  Requiring UH to submit a report to the Legislature on
          the expenditure of funds for the Program; and

    (11)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          clarity, consistency, and style.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1411-00
                                 Page 3

 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
3123, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3123,
S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Finance,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair