STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2072

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2840

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2840 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Department of Human Services to draw from other funds appropriated to the Department in the event the general assistance appropriation is insufficient to maintain general assistance benefits payments.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that it is important for the Department to have the flexibility to transfer surplus funds between various programs to ensure that the general assistance program sustains adequate funding.  Your Committee further finds that the general assistance program is the primary source of temporary cash assistance for individuals in Hawaii who have suffered a temporary illness or injury that prevents them from working, or who have permanent disabilities and are awaiting permanent federal disability benefits.  The general assistance program is a block grant program and, therefore, the maximum allowance a recipient can receive depends on the amount appropriated by the Legislature and the number of general assistance recipients.

     In previous years, the monthly general assistance allowance has dropped as low as $234 due to high caseloads and insufficient funding.  Consequently, the Department has had to request emergency appropriations.  This measure provides more stability and more reasonable monthly allocations for individuals who need temporary assistance by allowing the Department to transfer surplus funds from other programs to the general assistance program.  This measure requires the Department to be transparent regarding the use of its appropriations by submitting to the Legislature a report detailing the funds and calculations used.

     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 S.B. No. 2840 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