Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure to represent the Waipahu community at the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

In addition to serving my constituents, I am also working toward finding solutions to help those of us that are less fortunate. I am looking forward to a productive Legislative Session, and welcome your ideas.

Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Sincerely,
Alex Sonson
State Representative
35th District

TOPICS OF INTEREST

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  While the Legislature supports innovative use of federal funds, there have been concerns that TANF funds that could be used to provide direct assistance to low-income families have been diverted for other purposes. Representative Sonson and his colleagues introduced House Bill No. 2258, C.D. 1, to ensure accountability and transparency regarding the disposition of TANF monies by prohibiting TANF monies from being expended without appropriation by the Legislature and requiring that the Department of Human Services submit a plan to the Legislature detailing how TANF funds received will be expended.
  
  
• Commission on Juvenile Justice
  The Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) has recently come under intense scrutiny regarding its operations and management, and has also been evaluated by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. House Bill No. 937, H.D. 2, would have established the Hawaii Commission on Juvenile Justice to have oversight over HYCF and the Office of Youth Services. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  
  
• Care Homes
  Representative Sonson represents Waipahu, an area with a high concentration of care homes. While housing costs and costs of care have increased steadily over the years, the level of care payments have remained the same since 1997. House Bill No. 1821, C.D. 1, will help to more adequately compensate care home operators by increasing the maximum level of care payments and clarifying the types of homes that qualify for level of care payments.