REPORT TITLE:
Ag Back-To-Work Program


DESCRIPTION:
Provides funding for the agricultural back-to-work pilot program.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.641        
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGRICULTURAL BACK-TO-WORK PILOT
   PROGRAM.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that sweeping changes made
 
 2 by the federal government to the nation's welfare policy have
 
 3 profoundly affected the manner in which welfare assistance is
 
 4 distributed by the State.  Faced with new mandates, decreased
 
 5 federal funding, and expanded program responsibilities, states
 
 6 throughout the country are currently in the process of
 
 7 transforming their welfare programs from programs of cash
 
 8 assistance to programs aimed at promoting work participation and
 
 9 self-sufficiency.  It is imperative that steps be taken to bring
 
10 about this transition in Hawaii and reduce the welfare rolls of
 
11 the State, and to help individuals, both U.S. citizens and legal
 
12 immigrants, who are unemployed, who are on welfare, or whose
 
13 welfare benefits have expired but remain unemployed.
 
14      The legislature further finds that although the State has
 
15 experienced difficult economic times in recent years, new work
 
16 opportunities can be created by carefully examining and making
 
17 full use of the resources available to the State.  For example,
 
18 while factors such as unemployment and the demise of large
 
19 agricultural operations have negatively impacted Hawaii's
 

 
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 1 economy, the vast areas of land now open for new ventures in
 
 2 diversified farming provides the State with a unique opportunity
 
 3 to create new job opportunities in agriculture, encourage work
 
 4 participation, and reduce welfare dependency throughout the
 
 5 State.  By creating new work opportunities in agriculture, the
 
 6 State will help individuals, both U.S. citizens and legal
 
 7 immigrants, unemployed or on public assistance, make the
 
 8 transition from unemployment or welfare back to work.
 
 9      Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, established the
 
10 agricultural back-to-work pilot program within the department of
 
11 agriculture.  The intent of the program is to establish other
 
12 programs on public and private agricultural lands in each county,
 
13 coordinate the assignment of eligible individuals to agricultural
 
14 parcels and supervise the farming, marketing, and business
 
15 activities of program participants.  Participation in the back-
 
16 to-work program is intended to be limited to individuals, both
 
17 U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, who are unemployed, who are
 
18 receiving welfare, or whose welfare benefits have expired but
 
19 remain unemployed.
 
20      The department of agriculture, in cooperation and
 
21 participation with the department of labor and industrial
 
22 relations and the department of human services, has attempted to
 
23 administer the program with limited success.  Although the
 

 
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 1 department of agriculture has explored other possible funding
 
 2 sources, including private and federal funds, the program's
 
 3 efficacy is hampered by an inadequate budget.
 
 4      The legislature finds that only with proper funding can the
 
 5 back-to-work pilot program reduce welfare dependency and
 
 6 unemployment, and assist the State in fulfilling its
 
 7 constitutional obligation to protect and preserve prime
 
 8 agricultural lands throughout the State.  The purpose of this Act
 
 9 is to fund the agricultural back-to-work pilot program in the
 
10 department of agriculture established under Act 255, Session Laws
 
11 of Hawaii 1997.
 
12      SECTION 2.  Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, is amended
 
13 by amending section 8 to read as follows:
 
14      "SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1997; and
 
15 shall be repealed on July 1, [2000.] 2004."
 
16      SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues
 
17 of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        , or so much thereof
 
18 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, and the same sum,
 
19 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001,
 
20 to fund the agricultural back-to-work pilot program established
 
21 by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997.
 
22      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
23 department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
 

 
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 1      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
 2 
 
 3                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________
 
 4