Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 12 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to express the legislature's support of the TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) Act of 2001.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, National Association of Social Workers, Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii, and an individual.

TANF is a federal welfare program for single parent families that replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The change was made pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, commonly known as the Welfare Reform Act, P.L. 104-193. This is a federal program paid for by federal funding. TANF in its current form is deficient in that, among other things, it does not provide for postsecondary education as qualifying for the work requirements to receive welfare benefits. The bill currently in the Congress, as introduced by U.S. Representative Patsy Mink, would redress the inequity. Your Committee urges the legislature to support Congresswoman Mink's bill.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 12, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.