STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3241

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2685

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2685, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to conduct a study to evaluate current asset limits for public assistance programs, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and assess the effects of changing the asset limits for those programs.

     Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Department of Human Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development.

     Your Committee finds that public assistance programs currently limit eligibility to those with few or no assets to ensure that limited public resources reach individuals and families most in need.  However, your Committee also finds that asset limits can discourage the saving of money and prevent families from making investments that could help them to escape poverty.  Your Committee believes that the study described in this measure is necessary to determine the most appropriate manner of addressing asset limits for public assistance programs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the study shall include information on promising activities, policies, and trends relating to asset limits; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     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 H.B. No. 2685, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2685, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair