CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 188-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 1137

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPOUSE AND CHILD ABUSE SPECIAL FUND,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to increase the amount of unencumbered and unexpended moneys that the Spouse and Child Abuse Special Fund can retain.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Spouse and Child Abuse Special Fund is a fund administered and expended by the Department of Human Services to support or provide spouse or child abuse intervention and prevention. Your Committee on Conference also finds that the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018, P.L. 15-123, added a mechanism for states to claim reimbursement through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for a percentage of state funds spent on certain child abuse and neglect prevention services, and the Department of Human Services anticipates that it will soon be able to begin drawing down certain federal reimbursement moneys. Your Committee on Conference finds however, that existing law requires all unencumbered and unexpended moneys in the Spouse and Child Abuse Special Fund in excess of $3,000,000 to lapse to the general fund. This measure will increase this cap amount to ensure that the federal reimbursements received will remain in the Spouse and Child Special Fund until they may be used to administer programs and services that prevent, reduce, and respond to the impacts or incidents of spouse abuse and child abuse and neglect.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an amount of $5,000,000 as the amount of unencumbered and unexpended moneys the Spouse and Child Abuse Special Fund can retain;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval and inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2027; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair