Bill Text: HI HCR34 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Temporary Task Force for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and coverage

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-29 - (H) The committee(s) on HUS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HCR34 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-HCR34-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	34
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the establishment of a temporary task force for temporary assistance for needy families benefits and coverage.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in this State; and

 

     WHEREAS, while the State is experiencing a modest economic recovery, the recovery has been characterized as tenuous, at best; and

 

     WHEREAS, during this same time period, public assistance programs have experienced significant budgetary cutbacks and are constantly threatened with additional cuts; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a need to investigate, discuss, and review possible methods that can be used to ensure that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and services are being efficiently provided through public resources to properly address the needs of recipients and their dependent children; and

 

     WHEREAS, to help ensure that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and services are being efficiently provided, research can be conducted on what other states are doing with respect to their own respective Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to help to cover the cost of providing benefits; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that a temporary task force should be established within the Department of Human Services to discuss and seek input on the problems faced by the State in administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to establish a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and coverage task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include eleven members, or the member's designee, as follows:

 

     (1)  A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (2)  A member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

 

     (3)  The Director of Human Services;

 

     (4)  The Administrator of the Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division of the Department of Human Services;

 

     (5)  The Administrator of the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services;

 

     (6)  The Attorney General;

 

     (7)  One member selected by the benefit, employment and support services division who is a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits; and

 

     (8)  Four members appointed by the Governor from a list submitted jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate, with each member representing a different organization that represents Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients from the counties of Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, and Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force serve without compensation and receive no reimbursement for expenses; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force investigate, discuss, and review possible methods that can be used to ensure that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and services are provided through public resources to properly address the needs of recipients and their dependent children; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to research what other states are doing with respect to the program that help to cover the cost of the benefits; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to develop a working plan of services that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients may be required to perform to continue receiving benefit coverage; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2013; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution is requested to assist the task force by providing a facilitator; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force cease to exist on June 30, 2013; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Human Services, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, and the Director of the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Temporary Task Force for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and coverage