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Senate Bill 252 needs your support now <br /> The year-before-last the state cut the appropriation for ger~eD <br /> assistance. nom: ~~--BV-----------~-- - <br /> Last year they ctxt it again. ~O"' <br /> -~~y~County Council <br /> This year they kept the same appropriation-- but will spend only <br /> 80% of it-- unless S.B. 252, wtuch would remove the 24-month <br /> time-limit from benefits, is passed. <br /> 24% of general assistance benefits come to Big Island. <br /> The general assistance appropriation is $27 million, or about 1% <br /> of the State's operating budget. <br /> Because of the improving economy (and the department's tighter <br /> review of new applicants) general assistance caseloads have been <br /> declining since November 1995. <br /> Only 20% of the persons who enroll onto general assistance are <br /> still on after 24 months. <br /> If S.B. 252 is not passed then only $21 million of the $27 <br /> million appropriation will be spent-- $6 million will be lapsed. <br /> Of that $6 million, $1.5 million would came to Hawaii County. <br /> If S.B. 252 is passed-- with no increase in the appropriation-- <br /> there will be enough money to pay everybody $375/month all year. <br /> S.B. 252 has passed the Senate Human Resources Committee, the <br /> Senate Ways and Means Committee, the whole Senate, and the House <br /> Human Services Committee. <br /> The question remains: Will Chairman Say of the House Finance <br /> Co~uttee hear the bill? <br /> A similar bill which originated in the House was held in <br /> committee by Chairman Say. <br /> Please contact Big Island Finance Committee members <br /> and ask them to hear S.B. 252: <br /> Jerry Chang, District 2 Eric Hamakawa, District 3 <br /> 974-4000 (toll free) 974-4000 (toll free) <br /> x66120 x68480 <br /> Fax: 586-6121 Fax: 586-8484 <br /> The bill might be heard on April 4, 1997. <br /> Call Chairman Say at (974-4000) x66200 <br /> <br /> mahalo, Carl Foytik 961-9921, ask for: "room 5, upstairs" ~~QQ ~~~j,~, <br /> iP71e irm..-______ fl w< ~ <br /> PresFr2ted- NSEO(~ <br /> Rsf. Tr~: - <br /> MAR 1 9 1997 <br /> <br />