STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2348

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2658
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2658 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Department of
Human Services (DHS) to retain any appropriation for general
assistance to households without minor dependents at the close of
each fiscal year.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the DHS and Hawaii Catholic Conference.  Testimony in
opposition was received from the Department of Budget and
Finance.  Informational testimony was presented by the Legal Aid
Society.

     Your Committee believes that allowing the DHS to retain
unexpended general assistance funds at the close of each fiscal
year is necessary to facilitate adequate funding of general
assistance from year to year.  Provisions are included in the
measure that the retained funds shall not be used for any other
purpose and shall not diminish future appropriations.

     Your Committee agrees with the concerns expressed by the
Legal Aid Society that the measure may not be clear that the
retained funds are to be used for case management services for
general assistance, and may be vague as to the proper expenditure

 
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of the funds that are not retained.  Your Committee suggests that
your Committee on Ways and Means review this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2658 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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