Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1144, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to encourage social workers to enter government service by providing financial assistance to certain social workers by:

(3) Appropriating funds for the Subsidy Programs.

The National Association of Social Workers - Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and numerous social workers testified in support of this measure. The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Human Resources Development commented on this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance commented on this measure, but did not support the creation of special funds.

Social workers are often faced with arduous tasks that many individuals would never consider doing. This makes it difficult to recruit and retain qualified individuals willing to put the time and effort into a demanding career. Your Committee finds that a student loan repayment program would encourage individuals to enter the field of social work and provide an incentive for those already in the field to pursue further academic and professional credentials.

After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1144, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1144, H.D. 2.