STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1654-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 475

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 475, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide public assistance recipients with adequate income by:

(1) Adjusting the standard of need as determined by an unspecified percentage of the federal poverty level for the current year;

(2) Clarifying that households with minor dependents be included in determining amounts of payment;

(3) Including the aged, blind, and disabled in determining amounts of payment; and

(4) Providing that determinations of general assistance allowances be based on standard of need, among other factors, rather than on the total appropriations for general assistance.

Catholic Charities Hawaii, Blueprint for Change, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of Human Services (DHS) supported the intent of this measure. The National Association of Social Workers, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Work!, and several concerned individuals supported this bill with amendments.

Your Committee wishes to acknowledge that a collaborative effort has resulted in a proposed HD2 submitted by the Legal Aid Society, and may be worthy of examination and consideration as this measure progresses through the legislative process.

Your Committee notes that although DHS currently claims to support the intent of this measure, the Administration has not included appropriations for the significant expenditures that will result from the enactment of this bill in any financial plan or Governor's message sent to the Legislature. On the other hand, the Legislature has been working diligently to address the numerous unmet needs of communities statewide. To that end, your Committee hopes the Administration will assist in identifying adjustments that can be made to balance these competing needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 475, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

		____________________________ DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair