Bill Text: HI SB2095 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Food Stamp Program; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-08 - (H) Referred to HUS, FIN, referral sheet 41 [SB2095 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2095-Amended.html

---

 

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2698

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2095

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2095, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the increased caseload that followed the United States Department of Agriculture's mandate to amend supplemental nutrition assistance program income eligibility requirements, which increased the number of potential beneficiaries of the program.

 

     Specifically, this measure makes an appropriation to the Department of Human Services to provide the resources for the Department to respond to the increased caseload.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one person.

 

Your Committee finds that by implementing the expanded categorical eligibility provision, which allows individuals with incomes of no more than 200 per cent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the Department of Human Services has experienced an increase in its caseload.  Since October 2010, the Department's caseload increased 12.6 per cent, and from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2011, the caseload increased 63 per cent.  The increased caseload, coupled with the Department's substantial workforce reduction and lost time due to furloughs, caused the Department to miss federally mandated deadlines for processing program applications, which then resulted in a preliminary injunction against the Department.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

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

 

     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 S.B. No. 2095, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2095, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair