STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1114-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.R. No. 164
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.R. No. 164 entitled: 

     "HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
     SERVICES TO CONVENE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE INTERAGENCY WORKING
     GROUP TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department
of Human Services to convene an interagency working group (group)
to help low-income families become self-sufficient.  This group
is requested to discuss:

     (1)  Worker stipend programs;

     (2)  State earned income tax credits; and

     (3)  Job retention and advancement services.

     The group is further requested to develop an overall model
that helps welfare recipients who reach the five-year lifetime
limit find jobs.

     The National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Catholic
Conference, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and Welfare and
Employment Rights Commission supported this resolution.  The
Department of Human Services commented on this measure.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1114-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee finds that there exists a continuing need to
develop strategies for assisting welfare recipients to become
self-sufficient.  The group suggested by this resolution would
represent public and private organizations and would provide a
wide range of insight into ways to help Hawaii's citizens who
live in poverty.  

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
resolution by adding representatives from the following
organizations and groups to the members of the proposed working
group:

     (1)  Institutions of higher learning;

     (2)  Welfare recipients;

     (3)  Communities of faith; and

     (4)  The Domestic Violence Coalition.

     Technical, nonsubstantive changes have also been made for
purposes of style and clarity.

     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. 164, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment in the
form attached hereto as H.R. No. 164, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair