Bill Text: HI SB1100 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Department of Human Services; General Assistance Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-26 - The conference committee deferred the measure. [SB1100 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1100-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 111

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1100

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1100 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Department of Human Services to draw from other funds appropriated to the Department to make general assistance benefits payments.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that general assistance is a program that provides financial assistance to disabled adults without children.  The limited assistance that the program provides can be critical to helping a disabled adult maintain housing or get access to basic necessities.  General assistance also provides a critical bridge for disabled adults who are seeking Social Security disability assistance.  Upon award of Social Security assistance, the State is repaid for the general assistance paid to the disabled adult.

 

     Your Committee further finds that because general assistance is a block grant, assistance levels are determined based on the number of people in the community needing assistance.  As these numbers rise, the assistance amount is reduced.  The amount set for this year was $319 per month; however, it will be reduced to $298 per month effective February 1, 2013, because of the caseload.  The general assistance program is the safety net for many individuals.  Without it, far more people would be facing homelessness without critical assistance to get themselves back on their feet.

 

     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. 1100 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 Human Services,

 

		____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair