STAND. COM. REP. NO.  38-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 1914

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1914 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION TASK FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve access to economic and educational opportunities that help families achieve self-sufficiency and financial security while reducing the number of Hawaii residents living in poverty by:

     (1)  Establishing the Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force (EOPRTF) to assess current state policies and practices, along with evidence-based solutions used in other states, that promote economic opportunity and poverty reduction; and

     (2)  Developing a strategic, integrated, and comprehensive plan to expand economic opportunities in Hawaii to reduce, by at least 50 percent by 2020, the number of Hawaii residents, including children and families, living in poverty.

     The National Association of Social Workers-Hawaii Chapter and a concerned individual supported this bill.

     Your Committee recommends that the EOPRTF incorporate and build upon the work and recommendations of the Asset-Building Task Force that recently completed its work in 2009.

     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. 1914 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair