Hawaii House Bill HR125

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24
• Report Pass: 4/4/24
• Passed: 4/4/24

Caption

Urging The Department Of Human Services, Department Of Health, And Judiciary To Prioritize Ensuring That Contracts For Government Services Are Adequately Resourced To Cover The Costs Of Providing Those Services.

Summary

House Resolution 125 urges the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, and Judiciary in Hawaii to prioritize the adequate resourcing of contracts for government services. This resolution highlights the challenges faced by community-based organizations in providing essential services to vulnerable populations, including victims of domestic violence, at-risk youth, and low-income households. These organizations have reported that their government contract rates are set below the actual costs necessary to deliver these services effectively. The resolution points out that a significant number of community organizations, about 91%, have struggled with funding levels that do not meet operational costs. This gap has resulted in some organizations considering the reduction or elimination of the programs they provide. Therefore, the resolution calls for state agencies to ensure that contracts reflect the true costs, thereby enabling these organizations to maintain and improve their service offerings. If adopted, this resolution would bring about a crucial change in how government contracts are managed and would encourage a greater accountability from the state agencies involved. It aims to secure a commitment from these agencies to allocate sufficient resources to allow community organizations to operate without the threat of service reductions for vulnerable groups. Notably, this resolution stems from an underlying need to address systemic issues of underfunding in social services. While there is likely to be broad support for ensuring that vital services are funded appropriately, there could be contention regarding the implications for state budgets and the distribution of resources among various sectors. Legislative discussions may arise around the limitations of existing funding mechanisms and how to prioritize these services in light of other competing budgetary demands.