STAND. COM. REP. NO. 690

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1666

       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. 1666, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to continue supporting social service programs with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds while maintaining an adequate reserve of funds for future expenditures.

     Your Committee received ten written comments on this measure.

The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds are a critical part of the safety net for families in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that in these difficult economic times, it is important to continue supporting essential health, education, employment, and economic assistance to families in need.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

(1)  Adding Public Law references to the new federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes.

     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. 1666, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1666, S.D. 2.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair