STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2970

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2897

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR ASSET BUILDING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Department of Human Services three-year pilot project to conduct and expand statewide asset building classes to serve individuals with disabilities and the parents of children with a disability.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

     Your Committee finds that the unemployment rate among individuals with disabilities is extremely high, and assisting these individuals with accessing community resources and obtaining gainful employment will afford major benefits to both the individuals and the community. 

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair