STAND. COM. REP. NO. 368-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2367
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 2367 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the successful
transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency by
establishing the Bridge-to-Hope Program (Program) to encourage
public assistance recipients to pursue and successfully complete
higher education.

     The Commission on the Status of Women, the American Friends
Service Committee, the Women's Center at the University of Hawaii
(UH) at Manoa, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the National
Association of Social Workers, the Kokua Council, and numerous
individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department
of Human Services (DHS) and UH testified in support of the intent
of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure accomplishes the
important goals of moving women from welfare to work with the
education and skills necessary to lead productive lives and
keeping families permanently off public assistance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that to receive assistance under the
          Program, the parent must be working and meeting the
          minimum work requirements of the Program;

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 368-00
                                 Page 2

 

     (2)  Calculating a "full-time student" status in the same
          manner as the UH system;

     (3)  Permitting internships, externships, practicums, or any
          other work-training required by the course of study or
          work experience related to the student's course of
          study count toward the recipient's work requirements;

     (4)  Inserting an escape clause authorizing DHS to adjust
          hours of federally defined work activities under
          certain conditions;

     (5)  Not exempting work requirements or the Program from
          federal laws;

     (6)  Deleting requirements that the participant submit:

          (A)  Evidence that the participant completed the course
               of study within two years beyond the the time
               limit; and

          (B)  Proof of completion of the Program upon
               graduation;

     (7)  Deleting the definition of "substantial hardships";

     (8)  Deleting the provision allowing additional assistance
          to include additional subsidies;

     (9)  Deleting requirements that DHS provide yearly
          evaluations to determine success;

    (10)  Requiring that work requirements not exceed an
          unspecified number of hours per week; and

    (11)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 2367, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2367, H.D.
1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 368-00
                                 Page 3

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair