HB2770 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2770
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO BRIDGE TO HOPE PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the recent changes to the rules of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which prohibit baccalaureate education as countable work activities and limits educational activities to one year of vocational education are not consistent with the State's intention to include education and training as one of the pathways to economic self-sufficiency. The department of human services has implemented an expanded education policy for first-to-work participants, but this statute, which creates the bridge to hope education program, only mentions TANF families. Currently, Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families participants use the expanded education options due to the recent federal limitations on educational activities.

In July 2000, the legislature enacted the bridge to hope post-secondary education benefits program within the department of human services, and affirmed the State's support for access to post-secondary education by participants in the federally funded TANF welfare program. Heads of households often require additional skills and knowledge to increase their earning capacity to enable them to earn a self-sufficient wage. Since July 2001, the bridge to hope student employment and academic support at the University of Hawaii has served over 600 individuals with 150 of those individuals earning their associate of arts and 70 others earning their bachelor of arts.

The purpose of this Act is to clarify eligibility requirements of and expand the bridge to hope program to enable all heads of households who are receiving financial assistance and participating in the first-to-work program to pursue a full range of educational activities as part of their work activities.

SECTION 2. Section 346-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) There is created within the department a post-secondary education benefits program, to be known as the bridge to hope program, for heads of households in the [~~temporary assistance to needy families~~] first-to-work program.

(b) To receive assistance under this program, the [~~single parent~~] participant shall:

(1) Be enrolled as a student each term[;] in an approved course of study, including vocational education;

(2) Maintain passing grades or better throughout the course of study; and

(3) Meet work activity requirements as defined by the department."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.