Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2617, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide assistance to needy families by appropriating moneys for temporary assistance programs.

Specifically, this bill appropriates or authorizes unspecified amounts to programs that:

(1) Promote higher skill level job preparation;

This bill also appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for operating costs, including personnel, systems, and administrative expenses.

Finally, this bill directs DHS to involve the community in planning for the future use of TANF funds and to set annual goals and outcomes for programs receiving TANF funds.

Hawaii Women Work!, National Association of Social Workers, and a concerned citizen supported this bill. Blueprint for Change supported this measure with amendments. DHS and the Department of Health offered comments.

Your Committee recognizes that there is an ongoing dialogue to determine the best use of TANF funds. Further strategic planning, discussion, and careful financial and economic analysis of possible outcomes from expenditures are necessary to develop an effective, meaningful use of these funds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2617, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.