STAND. COM. REP. NO. 679

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 914

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 914, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to conform Hawaii public assistance law to the federal code of regulations regarding the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

     Specifically, this housekeeping measure adds the definitions of "non-work eligible household," "other work eligible household," and "work eligible household," repeals the definition of "exempt household" and makes conforming amendments to the new terms with the repealed term, as appropriate.

     Your Committee received one comment on this measure.  The written comment is available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that this housekeeping measure is necessary to bring the Hawaii's public assistance law into conformance with federal regulations relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 914, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 914, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair