STAND. COM. REP. NO. 688

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 905

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 905, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to transfer the Office of Community Services from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee received four comments on the measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the primary functions of the Office of Community Services more readily correspond to the mission, objectives, and responsibilities of the Department of Human Services than to those of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.  Your Committee believes that this measure will improve the Department of Human Services' coordination and delivery of services for programs to assist the disadvantaged, poor, refugees, immigrants, and homeless persons.  The Department of Human Services will also be able to assist with employment and job-training, child care, and general assistance.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the Office of Community Services will be attached to the Department of Human Services for administrative purposes only;

 

     (2)  Adding standard transition language to accommodate the agency transfer of rights, powers, functions, and duties; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 905, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 905, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair