STAND. COM. REP. NO.  881-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2547

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2547, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation in the amount of $736,478 to assist the Department of Human Services in funding general assistance payments and address a budget shortfall in the General Assistance Program.

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Mental Health America of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, PHOCUSED (Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Children, Under Served, Elderly, and Disabled), and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provided comments.

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in his Governor's Message No. 211 to the House of Representatives, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2547, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair