STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3864

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2233

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2233, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize and appropriate funds for the Department of Human Services to provide additional housing assistance subsidies to eligible needy families.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Authorizes the Department of Human Services to provide additional housing assistance subsidies of up to $500 per month to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) program participants who are participating in the First-To-Work program; and

(2) Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the housing assistance subsidies and for system modifications for the TANF program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Zonta Club of Hilo, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Partners In Care, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office, Department of Budget and Finance, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that additional housing assistance subsidies to recipients of the TANF and TAONF programs who participate in the First-To-Work program will help these households cope with the high cost of rental housing in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriations to the Department of Human Services; and

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

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2233, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2233, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair