STAND. COM. REP. NO. 462-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2233

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2233 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to alleviate the rental housing needs of low-income families by authorizing and appropriating funds for the Department of Human Services to provide eligible households receiving benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program or Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families Program with housing assistance subsidies of up to $500 per month during their participation in the First-to-Work Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Department of Human Services; Zonta Club of Hilo; Partners In Care; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, Inc.; Community Alliance Partners; We Are Oceania; HOPE Services Hawaii; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, State Procurement Office, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that housing assistance can make a significant difference in the economic and personal well-being of low-income families. Housing costs are the single largest budget item in a household budget; however, the impact of housing costs are harder felt by low-income families and those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. This measure provides ongoing shallow subsidies for rental housing to reduce the housing cost burden for low-income families who are working to transition off public assistance, maintain their housing, and achieve self-sufficiency.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Broadening the appropriation to include system modifications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program participants;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2233, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2233, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair