STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3301

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2770

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2770, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BRIDGE TO HOPE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify the eligibility requirements for the Bridge to Hope program.

The bill also expands the 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.

     Specifically, this measure expands the Bridge to Hope program to allow temporary assistance for needy families program participants to use the expanded education options that participants in the temporary assistance for other needy families currently use.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, the University of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii Bridge to Hope, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that expanding the education options to enable all heads of households who are receiving financial assistance and participating in the First to Work program is consistent with the State's intention to include education and training as one of the pathways to economic self-sufficiency.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2770, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2770, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair