STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1339

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 146

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 146 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES RECEIPT, ADMINISTRATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a financial and management audit of the Department of Human Services receipt, administration, and management of federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds.

The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in support of this measure. The National Association of Social Workers-Hawaii Chapter submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that there is a need to ensure that the Department of Human Services is maximizing the available federal aid under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF) and other funds received from the federal government, and that these funds are properly accounted, managed, and expended in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations and laws.

Your Committee further finds that there is currently an audit being conducted by the Federal Office of the Inspector General (OIA) that will possibly help resolve concerns of the Legislature regarding the TANF program. Additionally, the Auditor has scheduled a financial audit of the Department of Human Services this year. The last financial audit was completed in 1993.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 146 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair