STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2369

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2351

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2351 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DIAPERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a pilot diaper benefit program for parents who participate in the first to work program administered by the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Children's Action Network. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that a family's need for diapers is not simply a material hardship, but a factor that can contribute to the perpetuation of the cycle of poverty. The cost for diapers can be substantial, averaging approximately $1,000 per year for a parent or caregiver, or as much as fourteen percent of the after-tax income of a struggling household.

Your Committee further finds that the only federal assistance that can be spent on diapers is the temporary assistance to needy families program. Your Committee also notes families use temporary assistance to needy families to cover a wide range of fundamental necessities. Often there is not enough left over to also cover diapers.

This measure therefore establishes a pilot diaper benefit program for parents who participate in the first to work program. The diaper benefit shall be used by the participant to purchase diapers for the child, shall be issued to qualifying parents through an electronic benefits transfer system, and shall not be considered income for the purposes of determining eligibility for any other public benefits.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2351 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

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RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair