STAND

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.3558

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.R. No. 68

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 68, S.D. 1, entitled:

"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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to explore ways to maximize federal funding for health and human services programs in Hawaii.

Specifically, this resolution resolves to conduct an interim study by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services to accomplish this task. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will convene a working group composed of representatives from the following:

(1) Department of Health;

(2) Department of Human Services;

(3) Hawaii Performance Partnership Board;

(4) Hawaii Together;

(5) Blueprint for Change;

(6) Hawaii Youth Services Network; and

(7) Private provider organizations.

The purpose of the working group is to determine whether Hawaii has captured all possible federal grant funds in health and human services, and if not, how much money is being lost, and to recommend administrative procedures and processes to identify opportunities and apply for relevant federal grants. The Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to assist the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services for the purposes of the interim study.

Your Committee agrees that some health and human services programs have not maximized their federal funding while others have aggressively pursued such funding. As the State continues to face a continuing financial crisis, with the looming threat of budget cuts and reduced services, your Committee agrees that a statewide effort to maximize federal funding to supplement or leverage state funding for health and human services programs should be pursued.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 68, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair