151
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP A "SAFETY
   NET" PROGRAM TO ASSIST PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WHO WILL
   BE EXHAUSTING THEIR LIFETIME LIMIT FOR FEDERAL WELFARE
   ASSISTANCE.



 1       WHEREAS, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities
 2   Reconciliation Act of 1996 permits beneficiaries to receive
 3   federal welfare benefits for a lifetime maximum of five years;
 4   and 
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services (DHS) estimates
 7   that commencing in December 2001, approximately 6,000 Hawaii
 8   residents who are currently receiving welfare benefits from the
 9   federal government may have those benefits permanently
10   terminated; and
11   
12       WHEREAS, it is foreseeable that many of these individuals
13   may suffer destitution and deprivation as a result of such
14   termination; and
15   
16       WHEREAS, a "safety net" program may be necessary to provide
17   for those who will still require public assistance; now,
18   therefore,  
19   
20       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
21   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
22   of 2000, that DHS is requested to develop a "safety net"
23   program to address the needs of public assistance recipients
24   who will be exhausting their five-year lifetime eligibility for
25   federal welfare benefits, but who will still require public
26   assistance; and
27   
28       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS is requested to develop a
29   report containing the details of the "safety net" program,
30   including but not limited to:
31   
32       (1)  An estimate of all associated costs; and
33   
34       (2)  Any proposed legislation;
35   
36   and

 
Page 2                                                     151
                                  H.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS submit the report to the
 2   Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
 3   the Regular Session of 2001; and
 4   
 5       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
 6   Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.
 7 
 8 
 9 
10                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________