Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 127 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow failure to pursue medical treatment due to circumstances beyond the control of the recipient upon determination and certification of either mental or physical disability of a general assistance recipient.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, National Association of Social Workers, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported the intent of this measure and offered a clarifying amendment.

Your Committee finds that DHS sometimes requires or recommends treatment for individuals receiving general assistance. Failure to comply may result in financial sanctions against the general assistance recipient.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 127, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 127, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.