STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3773

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2061

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2061, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a study group to examine the impacts, costs, and challenges of child support moneys being collected by the Department of Human Services for the public assistance of children for pass through to the family receiving public assistance.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Zonta Club of Hilo, and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that under existing law, non-custodial parents must pay child support to the State of Hawaii up to the amount of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits paid. The State keeps a portion of that money and passes on the rest to the federal government as reimbursement for providing TANF assistance. This measure would convene a task force to examine the impacts and impediments, including any conflicts with federal law, of allowing child support payments to pass through to TANF recipients.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Human Services to submit the report to the Legislature no later than forty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and

(2) Making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2061, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2061, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair