HONOLULU - The planned closure of 31 welfare offices and layoffs of 228 state employees would be put on hold under a measure advancing through the state Legislature.
A conference committee passed the bill 6-1 on Monday as a way to stave off the Lingle administration's welfare eligibility office consolidation proposal.
The state Department of Human Services wants to shutter the welfare offices to save $8 million and streamline benefit processing into two new call centers in Honolulu and Hilo.
But the plan wouldn't go forward under the bill pushed by lawmakers worried that the needy would lose in-person access to services.
The measure prohibits welfare office closures on the Neighbor Islands and requires public hearings before they could be consolidated on Oahu.
State Rep. Mele Carroll (D-East Maui, Molokai, Lanai) said in a news release that the state House and Senate will vote on the measure Wednesday.
She visited Lanai on Saturday with House Speaker Calvin Say and Rep. Angus McKelvey (D-West Maui, North Kihei), who chairs the House Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, and Military Affairs.
Carroll said she initially arranged to hold discussions with DHS employees on Lanai but was quickly joined by DHS clients. The gathering drew about 40 people, many of whom expressed worry about the new DHS plan.
"Many of the residents don't have Internet access, and there is only one public fax on the island," Carroll explained. "It is very important to them that they know the person handling their paperwork-their lives, essentially."
She said that many island residents are bilingual and having someone available in person would be important to help them understand the intricacies of the system.
"It is very important that a worker be present to explain exactly what is required," she said.
The representative from the 13th District believes the visit to Lanai saved the offices from the reorganization program. She also complained about the lack of consultation with the clients during the development of the reorganization plan.
