STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1009

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1668

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1668, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to combine the aid to the aged, blind, and disabled program and the general assistance program to create a single disability program that includes temporarily incapacitated persons along with aged, blind, and disabled persons and clarifies public assistance eligibility requirements.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and one concerned individual.  Testimony opposed to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that creating a single disability benefits program for the aged, blind, disabled, and temporarily incapacitated will ensure that disability assistance continues to those who need it, regardless of the type of disability.  Your Committee further finds that combining programs that provide assistance to the aged, blind, and disabled with the general assistance program will prevent disparities between the types of aid provided and eliminate difficulties in transferring funds between the two programs.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1668, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair