STAND. COM. REP. NO.  171-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3290

  H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 3290 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSISTING PERSONS UNDER A COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist individuals living in Hawaii under the Compacts of Free Association by:

     (1)  Creating a state coordinator position within the                   Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to        assist these individuals; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for this position.

     DLIR testified in support of the intent of this measure.

     There are many individuals living in Hawaii under the Compacts of Free Association currently in place between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.  Although a number of these individuals receive medical and social services assistance, this assistance is often provided to them through numerous agencies and organizations.  Better coordination of these services through a state coordinator would work toward enhancing and improving the living conditions of these individuals.

     However, your Committee understands the concerns raised by DLIR regarding the funding of this position through the use of general funds and notes that the Executive Director of the Office of Community Services stated that other avenues of providing funding for this position were being investigated.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2059, to                    encourage further discussion;

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for                     clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3290, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3290, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on International Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair