Report Title:

Bridge to Hope

Description:

Appropriates $1 to the Bridge to Hope Program. Expands eligibility to include Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families (HB2033 HD1).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2033

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to bridge to hope.

 

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

SECTION 1. The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 replaced an entitlement program with transitional aid called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Concurrent with these programmatic changes, block grant funding was provided along with state implementation discretion within federal guidelines. Under a variety of waiver programs, the State has developed an educational policy and employment plan that allows TANF recipients to pursue education and training beyond high school, and is designed to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Through waiver programs, the State also supports low-income, two-parent families with a state-funded mirror program, Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families (TAONF), offering training, education, and employment support.

The University of Hawaii and department of human services have collaborated to create and implement a successful transitional program for TANF recipients attending a post-secondary school. This program, called Bridge to Hope, was created by Act 276, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000.

Bridge to Hope funds are used to expand existing student employment opportunities at all ten University of Hawaii campuses. The reach of the Bridge to Hope program is limited only by funding. In fiscal year 2003, the program employed one hundred students, and fifty-four were on the wait list. Currently, there are seventy-five students employed with continuous referrals from the First to Work program.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the Bridge to Hope program to support TANF and TAONF recipients pursuing post-secondary education to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

SECTION 2. Section 346-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) There is created within the department a post-secondary education benefits program, to be known as the bridge to hope program, for heads of households in the temporary assistance to needy families program[.] and temporary assistance to other needy families program.

(b) To receive assistance under this program, the [single parent] recipient shall:

(1) Be enrolled as a student each term;

(2) Maintain passing grades or better throughout the course of study; and

(3) Meet work activity requirements as defined by the department."

SECTION 3. 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 2004-2005 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 Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.