Bill Text: HI HR148 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-24 - (H) Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with Finnegan voting no and Belatti, Berg, Chang, Mizuno, M. Oshiro, Shimabukuro, Thielen excused. [HR148 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HR148-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	148
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO STOP ITS PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF THE BENEFITS, ENMPLOYMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES AND MED QUEST DIVISIONS UNTIL a legislative task force EVALUATES THE PROPOSAL.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services (DHS) oversees a variety of important social service programs, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps, general assistance and Medicaid, that serve thousands of people in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, DHS proposes to reorganize its Benefits, Employment Support Services Division (BESSD), Med-Quest Division, Social Services Division, including but not limited to the intake and eligibility determination functions for public assistance, SNAP, Medicaid and Foster Care Income Maintenance, and create a new Eligibility Division to save money and streamline operations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the proposed reorganization would close 31 eligibility offices which equate to 50 units statewide and replace them with two processing centers in Honolulu and Hilo to handle all applications and the work previously done in local offices; and

 

     WHEREAS, under the proposed reorganization BESSD and Med-Quest employees would have no direct contact with clients because all communication would be by phone, fax, and e-mail; and

 

     WHEREAS, at least 232 DHS employees would be laid off as a result of this proposal, and the proposed changes come as more residents are struggling in the recession and people are turning to social welfare for help; and

 

     WHEREAS, there have been increases in the number of people on welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and child care subsidies during the current recession; and

     WHEREAS, this reorganization will likely result in fewer people receiving benefits and hurt those greatest in need because they are the elderly, disabled or mentally ill, or do not have access to computers or fax machines; and

 

     WHEREAS, clients may not be able to reach an eligibility worker by phone because of short staffing caused by the massive reduction-in-force last year; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is doubtful that non-profit social service organizations can assist if there are problems with this policy proposal since they are already struggling to serve their existing clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, a reduction in force to the DHS Office of Investigations will increase the rate of unreported cases of welfare fraud; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is urged DHS be prohibited from hiring private contractors and vendors for intake and eligibility of welfare services; and

 

     WHEREAS, DHS claims that the reorganization is based on successful models in other states such as Florida; yet we find troubling reports about service provision from these states including Florida; and

 

     WHEREAS, a policy change of this complexity and magnitude should be carefully evaluated before implementation, especially in the last several months of the administration; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that before the implementation of the proposed reorganization of DHS, a Task Force be established consisting of the following; DHS Director or designee; an eligibility worker from each island from the BESSD, Social Services Division, and Med-Quest Division; a representative from the Fraud Investigation Unit of DHS; a representative from HGEA; the House Chair of the Committee on Human Services; the Senate Chair of the Committee on Human Services; a representative from the United States Department of Agriculture; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force conduct a thorough evaluation of the proposed reorganization that include but are not limited to the following issues:

 

1. What the effect this proposal will have on current clients considering Hawaii’s unique geography and multi-cultural society; and

2. Whether benefit payments will be wrongly denied or delayed under this proposal; and

3. What specific information technology will be used to implement this proposal and how much it will cost; and

4. When will DHS staff be trained in the technology; and

5. Any and all other matters that the United States Department of Agriculture normally undertake as necessary or appropriate to evaluate a major policy proposal; and

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS, its staff, and other relevant persons or agencies are requested to cooperate with and assist the Legislative Task Force, and to provide information requested by the Legislative Task Force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no funds shall be expended towards any reorganization until the Task Force submit the findings and recommendations of the reorganization proposal to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of the Task Force be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture to determine possible concerns or potential violations with federal regulations or policy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Human Services, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation. 

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES