STAND. COM. REP. NO.  502-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2685

      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 Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2685 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage needy families to save money and escape poverty by raising the asset limit for the public assistance program from $5,000 to $10,000.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kewalo Hawaiian Homestead Community Association, and several concerned individuals supported the measure.  A concerned individual supported the measure with amendments.  The Department of Human Services offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Human Services to conduct a study on asset limits and submit its findings and recommendations to the 2013 Legislature; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2685, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2685, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair