STAND. COM. REP. NO.222
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 1237
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1237 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a welfare safety net program.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Association of Social Workers and a private citizen. Testimony in opposition was received from the DHS.
The welfare safety net program under this measure is entitled "Keeping Hope Alive", to assist families that will be disqualified from receiving further public assistance as a consequence of reaching the five-year time limit on benefits that was set by the federal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996. This measure requires the DHS to create a voucher system wherein children in these families may exchange vouchers issued by the DHS to obtain a set dollar amount of assistance with housing, child care, clothing, and school supplies. This measure also requires the DHS to provide case management and to adopt rules.
Your Committee has made a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for proper drafting.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1237, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1237, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
____________________________ DAVID MATSUURA, Chair |
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