STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1088-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.R. No. 85

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 85 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO ESTABLISH AND UTILIZE THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY STANDARD TO REPLACE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL STANDARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women (Commission) to:

(1) Maintain the access and accuracy of the Self-sufficiency Standard (Standard);

(2) Replace the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) with the Standard; and

(3) Identify other areas where the Standard may be used.

The Commission, Kokua Council, Hawaii Family Economic Self Sufficiency Standard Advisory Committee, National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services opposed this measure. The Office of Community Services and Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs provided comments.

Your Committee finds that the Standard provides a more accurate measure of income adequacy in Hawaii, especially since cost of living requirements vary by counties. The Standard can be a very useful tool in many sectors of government and business. However, your Committee received testimony that the FPL and the Standards have different purposes and may not necessarily be interchangeable.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this resolution by:

(1) Amending its title to read: "REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO MAINTAIN AND UTILIZE THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY STANDARD, WHERE FEASIBLE";

(2) Removing provisions that the FPL be replaced by the Standard and instead requesting the Standard to be used where feasible; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 85, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 85, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

____________________________

MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair