Report Title:

Citizenship Project

Description:

Appropriates funds for citizenship project targeted to reach non-citizens participating in state-funded public assistance programs.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

399

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for a citizenship project.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. In 1996, Congress approved the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Act) as the centerpiece of its welfare reform package. The Act had a devastating impact upon indigent immigrants and refugees. Under the Act, most non-citizens lost the right to access federally funded medical programs, food stamp programs, and cash assistance. Although Congress has engaged in the piecemeal restoration of some benefits, large groups of immigrants are still denied the right to access federally funded health care, cash assistance, and food stamp programs.

In response to the harsh consequences of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, Hawaii has created two state-funded programs to assist needy immigrants. The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program provides state-funded cash assistance to income-qualified legal permanent residents with children. In 2000, the legislature also extended state-funded health care to indigent legal permanent resident children. These generous programs cost the State an estimated $         in annual funding.

In order to reduce immigrant reliance on state-funded programs, the department of human services agrees to cooperate and provide contact information on immigrant beneficiaries who may qualify for citizenship to a legal services organization with a history of assisting immigrants in obtaining naturalization.

The target population for the citizenship project is the six hundred immigrants eligible for naturalization-citizenship applications throughout the State. Priority will be given to immigrants who are beneficiaries of state-funded assistance programs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for a citizenship project.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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