Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2022, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify eligibility requirements for individuals with disabilities who receive general assistance benefits. The bill also gives a person 10 days to provide additional medical information following an initial denial notice of disability before denial of the claim.

Currently, an applicant wishing to receive benefits must apply for assistance under either a physical or mental disability. Because there is no consideration of both physical and mental disabilities, an applicant with a combined disability will only be granted assistance if the physical or mental disability alone meets the criteria for disability. This bill allows an applicant with both physical and mental disabilities to be eligible for general assistance.

Your Committee on Conference has deleted the requirement that:

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments to the bill have also been made for style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2022, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2022, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.