STAND. COM. REP. NO.  533

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 473

      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. 473 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist individuals in achieving self-sufficiency by appropriating funds to the Bridge to Hope Program to accommodate new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families First-to-Work students to enable them to pursue educational activities beyond the new two-year federal limit.

     The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Welfare and Employment Rights Coalition, Community Alliance on Prisons, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that an estimated $2,000,000 per year is required to implement the provisions of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying the qualified recipients of the Bridge to Hope Program; and

     (2)  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. 473, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 473, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair