Report Title:

UH; Research Office for Children and Family; Bridge to Hope

 

Description:

Establishes a data and research office for children and families in the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Makes an appropriation for the Bridge to Hope Program. (SB1236 HD2)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1236

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304- Data collection relating to the well-being of Hawaii's children and families. (a) The Hawaii performance partnerships board (HPPB), with the assistance of the center on the family at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, shall establish key indicators and data sets relevant to the health, education, and socioeconomic well being of Hawaii's children and families.

(b) HPPB may request and shall receive from every department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the State and its political subdivisions cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties relating to results and performance accountability, decision-making, and budgeting."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. The Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 abolished the sixty-one-year-old Aid to Families with Dependent Children entitlement program and replaced it with a transitional aid program called the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF requires recipients who are able to work to secure employment at the earliest opportunity. The new law places a heavy burden on the states to meet strict work participation requirements.

The federal requirements have set a laudable goal. Work is the cornerstone of the community's shared values of personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. In addition, work promotes self-discipline and self-esteem.

The vast majority of the recipients of public assistance value parental responsibility and a strong work ethic, and will accept financial responsibility for themselves and their children when given a real opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency. However, public assistance recipients are frustrated by barriers preventing them from joining the work force on a permanent basis. Moreover, strong competition for scarce jobs often leaves behind those with little experience or education.

Women are the head-of-household in over ninety per cent of financially assisted households. Approximately two-thirds of all women in Hawaii are working in sales, clerical, and service type jobs, receiving the lowest wages. It is unlikely that the majority of financially assisted households will be able to move out of poverty and be self-sufficient without adding to their knowledge and skills to increase their earning capacity.

The legislature finds that transitional benefits are needed to provide the necessary support to enable recipients to secure education and training beyond high school.

The purpose of this part is to support the successful transition from public assistance to self-sufficiency through a transitional benefits program for public assistance recipients. The department of human services, through the financial assistance advisory committee, is encouraged to work in collaboration with the University of Hawaii to establish policies that encourage the pursuit and successful completion of higher education for single parents and their children to achieve a stable future.

SECTION 4. Act 276, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, is amended by amending section 4 to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000[,] or so much thereof as may be necessary[,] for fiscal year 2000-2001[,] for the bridge-to-hope program[.]; provided that this appropriation shall lapse on June 30, 2002. A staff position for outreach and up to $25,000 in operating expenses may be funded out of this appropriation.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act."

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year of 2002-2003 for the bridge-to-hope program, including one position for outreach.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 2, 4, and 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.