Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to make an emergency appropriation to continue the general assistance program.

Specifically, the bill makes an emergency appropriation of $416,718 to prevent the reduction of general assistance payments in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005-2006.

Your Committee finds that this bill will ensure that general assistance payments are maintained at $418 per month for each eligible recipient through the end of fiscal year 2005-2006. Without this emergency appropriation, the Department of Human Services would be unable to provide general assistance payments to disabled general assistance recipients after April, 2006. To continue payments after that period would result in a shortfall of more than $416,000. Your Committee believes that this bill is necessary to assist certain disabled individuals in maintaining their health and well-being.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

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. 2333, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 2.