STAND. COM. REP. NO.  119

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 99

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 99 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to offer financial education to individuals who are recipients of, or applicants for, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF) to improve and enhance their ability to plan for their financial future.  In addition, this bill appropriates general funds to pay for financial education services.

     3Point, Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, Hawaii Centers for Independent Living, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  DHS offered comments.

     Your Committee notes that testimony received from DHS indicated that federal TANF funding may be used to provide financial education services.

     Accordingly your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the means of financing from general funds to federal TANF funds for the appropriation; and

     (2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     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. 99, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 99, 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