STAND. COM. REP. NO.  30

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 102

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 102 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help public assistance recipients meet basic needs and work toward self-sufficiency by:

     (1)  Requiring that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) annually establish a self-sufficiency standard to be used by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in calculating public assistance payments; and

     (2)  Requiring annual reports to the Legislature on the number of persons exiting public assistance programs utilizing the annually adjusted self-sufficiency standard after 2007.

     The Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, 3Point, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Aloha United Way, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Women Work!, National Association of Social Workers, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  DBEDT and DHS provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that DBEDT requested $250,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and $415,000 in fiscal year 2008-2009 for purposes of this measure.  Your Committee recognizes the importance of an annually adjusted self-sufficiency standard to allow Hawaii to better provide living wages and an adequate level of assistance to the needy.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the self-sufficiency standard be based on existing models;

     (2)  Requiring DBEDT to provide annual reports to the Legislature on the self-sufficiency standard, beginning 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2008;

     (3)  Specifying that DHS submits annual reports to the Legislature on the number of individuals leaving public assistance programs after the implementation of the self-sufficiency standard, beginning 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2009;

     (4)  Implementing calculation of public assistance payments based on the self-sufficiency standard beginning July 1, 2008; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 102, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 102, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair