Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2495 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is authorize an emergency appropriation for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to cover a projected shortfall in HMS 303 by funding foster board and board-related payments, permanency assistance, and difficulty-of-care payments for foster and adoptive parents, permanent custodians, and guardians of children with special needs as follows:

(1) $2,268,663 in general funds; and

DHS and Blueprint for Change submitted testimony in support of this bill.

Your Committee has received a message from the Governor stating that a critical funding emergency exists in the Child Welfare Services Program and requesting the Legislature to make an emergency appropriation to cover the projected shortfall for HMS 303, foster boards and board-related payments.

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 H.B. No. 2495 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.