THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

68

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

CONVENING AN INTERIM STUDY BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO EXPLORE WAYS TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS.

 

WHEREAS, federal moneys can be a significant source of funding to support Hawaii's health and human services programs, but, unfortunately, these federal funds have not been maximized for a variety of reasons, thus causing a direct and unnecessary drain on Hawaii's taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, federal moneys come in the form of grants which each state must apply for in order to receive federal moneys; and

WHEREAS, federal grant moneys are an esoteric labyrinth of hidden treasure to be found among hundreds of pages of the United States Code and Code of Federal Regulations on any particular subject, and in the gigantic federal budget and appropriations bills that pass through Congress biennially; and

WHEREAS, finding federal moneys requires first hand knowledge, research, and solid expertise; and

WHEREAS, federal funding is oftentimes available to private providers, through the expending agency of state department, which makes the State and the private agencies partners in seeking out federal funds; and

WHEREAS, federal funding is particularly important in the area of health and human services because the federal government seems to make more grants in this area to address poverty and health issues; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (Committee) is requested to undertake an interim study to examine ways to capture more federal funding in health and human services programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee convene a working group composed of representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and private provider organizations for purposes of determining whether or not Hawaii has captured all possible federal grant funds in health and human services, and if not, how much money is being lost, and recommending administrative procedures and processes that should be in place to identify opportunities and apply for federal grant moneys; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau assist the Committee upon request for purposes of the interim study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health and Director of Human Services for transmittal to private health and human services providers selected in their discretion for participation in this study.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Interim Study; Federal Funding; Health and Human Services