STAND. COM. REP. NO.  623-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3400

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 3400 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow legal guardians and caretakers of eligible minors to be eligible for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families programs.

     The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) did not support this measure.

    Your Committee has amended this bill by replacing its contents with provisions requiring DHS to adopt rules adding "legal guardians" to the definition of a specified relative for purposes of determining eligibility for state-funded family assistance, within a reasonable period of time following the enactment of this bill.

     Your Committee respectfully requests DHS to provide a cost estimate of the provisions of the measure as amended.

     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. 3400, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3400, 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