STAND. COM. REP. NO. 515

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1293

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1293 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make emergency appropriations from General Fund monies to address budget shortfalls in cash assistance payments made to needy families and work program services and maintenance of effort contracts.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

     Your Committees find that there is a critical funding emergency for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  Your Committees further find that the programs that provide financial assistance to eligible adults with dependent children, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families are projected to expend all appropriated funds by the third quarter of the current fiscal year.  Your Committees find that this measure is necessary so that the Department of Human Services may continue providing cash assistance to approximately 9,849 families with children.

     Your Committees additionally find that contracts for work program services for financial assistance clients are in need of emergency funds.  These clients are required by federal law to participate in work activities to receive assistance.  Emergency funds are also needed to maintain the purchase of service contracts that help Hawaii meet maintenance of efforts requirements.  Your Committees find that funding of these contracts is necessary to prevent loss of federal funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1293 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Ways and Means,

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair