STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1057

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 192

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 192, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance during a state of emergency.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely threatened the health and welfare of the State's residents, especially the underprivileged and rural communities. Your Committees believe that during the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar emergency-caused economic hardships that may occur in the future, the State should be helping the most vulnerable communities so that they may recover from any economic hardship as a result of a governor-declared state of emergency.

Your Committees note the benefit assistance provided by this measure may potentially disqualify individuals from other types of federal benefits programs with income limitation requirements, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 192, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 192, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair