Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 127, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that a general assistance recipient (recipient) with a physical or mental disability is not prevented from receiving their benefits if their failure to pursue medical treatment is due to good cause. Good cause includes but is not limited to:

(1) The unavailability of treatment;

(2) Personal emergency; or

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, National Association of Social Workers, several attorneys from the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this bill.

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. 127, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.