THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

199

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the departments of human services and labor and industrial relations to jointly examine issues relating to public assistance involving incentives and requirements to work and income and asset thresholds that may act as disincentives to work.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, made radical changes to the national welfare system; and

WHEREAS, one major component is the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families -- a block grant awarded to the states replacing the previous open-ended, uncapped, entitlement welfare program in which recipients continued to receive public assistance indefinitely based on categorical eligibility; and

WHEREAS, in general, the new Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program limits cash assistance to needy families with children to a lifetime cap of five years and imposes work requirements as a condition to receiving that assistance; and

WHEREAS, on the other hand, states are given great flexibility to determine Temporary Assistance to Needy Families eligibility and benefit levels; and

WHEREAS, in general, adults in families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families aid are required to participate in work activities after receiving assistance for twenty-four months (or be performing community service within two months if not working); and

WHEREAS, in general, for all families, minimum weekly work hours must reach twenty hours for fiscal year 1997-1998, twenty-five hours for fiscal year (ending) 1999, and thirty hours for fiscal year (ending) 2000 and beyond. For two-parent families, the minimum is thirty-five hours for fiscal year (ending) 1997 and beyond; and

WHEREAS, unmarried minor parents must participate in educational activities leading to a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma; and

WHEREAS, states must reduce assistance to a family pro rata for any period in which an adult member refuses to work as required, subject to waivers for good cause. States may also terminate assistance completely and terminate Medicaid for these individuals although minor children will continue to receive Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, there have been reports in the program that certain recipients perceive work as a disincentive because earnings from their work would increase their incomes and assets beyond program thresholds so that they no longer remain eligible to receive assistance; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Departments of Human Services and Labor and Industrial Relations are requested to jointly examine issues relating to public assistance involving incentives and requirements to work and income and asset thresholds that may act as disincentives to work; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Departments of Human Services and Labor and Industrial Relations are requested to report their findings and recommendations for increasing incentives and reducing disincentives to work, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Directors of Human Services and Labor and Industrial Relations.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Assistance; DHS/DLIR Study Incentives to Work