STAND. COM. REP. NO. 546

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 36

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a management audit of the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services' implementation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

     Your Committee finds that due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices, many low-income individuals and families struggle to purchase food.  The Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a crucial means of providing necessary assistance in the purchase of food for some of Hawaii's most disadvantaged citizens.  However, many individuals who are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program do not participate because they are unaware of their eligibility or of the program's existence.  Finding ways to maximize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the State will ensure that those qualified individuals receive the assistance they need to purchase food.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language that requests the Auditor to examine the total utilization and total capacity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Hawaii;

     (2)  Inserting language that requests the Auditor to examine ways to maximize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Hawaii; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 36, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 36, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair