STAND. COM. REP. NO. 354

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1188

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1188 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to establish a state corollary to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for certain higher education students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that in 2021, thirty-eight percent of Hawaii residents between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine reported struggling to afford food. However, only seven percent of the State's population between ages eighteen and twenty-four are currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Your Committee further finds that one reason for the disparity may be due to the federal eligibility requirements imposed on college students, which require the individual to be working at least twenty hours per week or have a dependent. This measure is intended to reduce food insecurity in the State by establishing a state corollary to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for certain higher education students. Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services estimates the annual cost for such a State program to be $4,565,304.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 H.B. No. 1188, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1188, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair