STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2203

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2417

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2417 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET SHORTFALL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate general funds to prevent the further reduction of general assistance payments from the Department of Human Services.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the general assistance program is scheduled to expend all appropriated funds before the end of the current fiscal year, leaving the Department of Human Services with an insufficient balance to maintain the current maximum general assistance benefit.  This measure provides a safety net for those who depend heavily upon general assistance for living expenses by preventing the further reduction of general assistance payments in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009-2010.

     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 S.B. No. 2417 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair