Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 130 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the Bridge to Hope program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Human Services (DHS), University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Friends Service Committee, Hawaii Government Employees Association, National Association of Social Workers, The Kokua Council, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and nine private citizens.

Act 277, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000 (SLH), established the bridge to hope program within the DHS, a post-secondary education benefits program to assist Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients in transitioning from welfare to work. Bridge to Hope allows single parents to continue to receive TANF while attending a post secondary school.

This measure continues the appropriation of $300,000, made by Act 277, SLH 2000, to the DHS for the Bridge to Hope program, until June 30, 2002. This measure also makes an appropriation to UHM for fiscal year 2002-2003 for the same purpose.

Your Committees have amended this measure by clarifying that less than the $25,000 appropriation may be used for operating expenses and by making a technical amendment.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 130, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 130, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.