STAND. COM. REP. 11

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 129

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 129 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BRIDGE TO HOPE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Expand eligibility to the Bridge to Hope (BTH) program to include recipients of the Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families program; and

(2) Appropriate funds to BTH for program expenses and a full-time outreach position.

The University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, National Association of Social Workers, Kokua Council, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that BTH has helped numerous individuals attain self-sufficiency by providing access to higher education and part-time employment in the University of Hawaii system. However, BTH has a substantial wait list due to a lack of funding. Additionally, the current BTH coordinator position is a part-time position, but a full-time position would better handle the workload in a timely and efficient manner.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1) Reducing the appropriation amount to $1 to promote further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Labor and Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 129, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 129, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Labor and Public Employment,

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair

____________________________

MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair