STAND. COM. REP. NO.  984

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 473

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 473, H.D. 1, 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 (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 University of Hawaii, Bridge To Hope Program, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, National Association of Social Workers Hawaii Chapter, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Program is created for heads of households receiving financial assistance and participating in the first-to-work programs;

     (2)  Specifying that to receive assistance under the Program, the parent must be enrolled as a student each term in an approved course of study, not limited to vocational education; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 473, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair