Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 244, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expedite the receipt of public assistance by potential recipients by presuming an applicant's eligibility.

Specifically, this bill presumes that an applicant for public assistance is eligible prior to receiving a determination of eligibility from the Department of Human Services, with certain exceptions.

Your Committee finds that this measure will rectify situations in which potential recipients are forced to wait longer than the time as specified by the Department of Human Services in administrative rules to receive benefits. Since time is of the essence for applicants for public assistance, this measure is necessary to ensure that the situations of potential recipients do not deteriorate excessively while they wait for eligibility determination.

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 H.B. No. 244, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.