STAND. COM. REP. NO. 920

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1188

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1188, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY POVERTY REDUCTION TASK FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the economic opportunity poverty reduction task force to assess state practices that promote economic opportunity and poverty reduction and develop a plan to expand economic opportunities in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that it is in the public interest to improve access to economic and educational opportunities to help families achieve self-sufficiency and financial security while reducing the number of Hawaii residents living in poverty.  Middle-class families in Hawaii are increasingly living from paycheck to paycheck, especially in these very difficult economic times.

     Your Committee further finds that more states are recognizing that reducing poverty by addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income families is a critical economic development issue.  Reducing poverty requires strategic, integrated, and comprehensive approaches that create opportunities for families to achieve economic success, including creating quality jobs, providing work support, promoting greater collaboration with the private sector, and implementing targeted tax policies.

     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. 1188, H.D. 1, 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