STAND. COM. REP. NO. 176-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2512
                                     




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. 2512 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
     PAYMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to give the Department of Human
Services (DHS) flexibility to help public assistance recipients
become self-sufficient by allowing DHS to adjust its financial
assistance payments.

     DHS, the American Friends Service Committee, the Legal Aid
Society of Hawaii, and an individual testified in support of this
measure.

     DHS testified that it is in the process of developing
several varied and innovative employment programs, including a
grant diversion program that offers benefits up-front in exchange
for barring further assistance for a specified period of time.
DHS is requesting flexibility in the monthly benefit amount to
support the implementation of these programs.  DHS also testified
that adjustments in the assistance allowance would only be
allowed to support employment and would not cost the State any
additional funding.

     To facilitate participation in these programs, your
Committee expressed its desire to have DHS provide counseling and

 
 
 
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orientation to targeted recipients and communities to promote
education and understanding of these programs.

     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. 2512 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair