STAND. COM. REP. NO.3335

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 3

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 3 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE TANF REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2001 (HR 3113),"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to express support for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Reauthorization Act of 2001 (H.R. 3113).

Your Committees received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, National Association of Social Workers, Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and three private individuals.

Your Committees find that, although welfare reform has been successful in moving people off of the welfare rolls, it has failed to move people out of poverty. For example, 50% of former recipients live in poverty and 30% are unable to finds jobs. H.R. 3113 would improve the quality of jobs available to low-income workers and expand their opportunities through education and training so that they may gain higher wage employment that offers good benefits.

Your Committees have amended the measure by suggesting the following amendments to the TANF Reauthorization Act of 2001 in the paragraph urging Hawaii's congressional delegation to support its passage:

(1) Education should not exceed five years, coupled with at least a minimal employment requirement, to meet the definition of employment;

(2) A mother's ability to stay home to care for her child should mirror the practice of the non-assistance community, usually no more than one year; and

(3) The mandatory payment levels should be eliminated as this removes the block grant funding approach and would increase costs significantly.

Your Committees have further amended the measure by urging the retention of child support requirements within H.R. 3113 as their removal would severely impede attempts by households to gain economic self-sufficiency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 3, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 3, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Health and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair

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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair