STAND. COM. REP. NO.853

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1580

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1580 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVOCACY FOR HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to maximize federal funding for various human services programs.

Specifically, this bill:

(1) Appropriates a blank amount for fiscal year 2003-2004 in state matching funds for federal funds available for nonrecurring adoption expenses, and to contract with a nonprofit legal services provider for legal assistance to adoptive families;

(2) Appropriates a blank amount for fiscal year 2003-2004 for a grant-in-aid to a nonprofit legal services provider to obtain successful applications, reconsideration reviews, and appeals to obtain federal supplemental security income benefits for at least one hundred applicants; and

(3) Appropriates a blank amount for fiscal year 2003-2004 for a grant-in-aid to a nonprofit legal services provider to maximize federal benefits available to Hawaii residents dually eligible for benefits under medicaid and medicare.

Your Committee believes that this measure will help to maximize the amount of federal benefits to Hawaii residents who are eligible for those benefits, and thus also help to relieve funding pressure on the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1580 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair