STAND. COM. REP. NO.  611

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1776

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1776 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help enforce provisions prohibiting inmates in correctional facilities from receiving public assistance they are not entitled to by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Public Safety to provide the Department of Human Services (DHS) with a monthly report listing newly admitted inmates; and

     (2)  Requiring DHS to identify the status of each inmate on the monthly list with respect to the inmate's current receipt of public assistance.

     A concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DHS supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee notes that not only does this measure have the potential to save the State money by more accurately and efficiently stopping public assistance payments to inmates who are not eligible to receive them, but it will also help protect the families of inmates still receiving public assistance from being unintentionally overpaid, which can result in a reduction of future benefits for those families through no fault of their own.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1776 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair