
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994                    TAG: 9406280340 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: By MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940628                                 LENGTH: NORFOLK

NORFOLK IS FIRST STOP FOR STATE WELFARE HEARINGS

{LEAD} Gov. George F. Allen's Commission on Citizen Empowerment has chosen Norfolk for its first of five regional public hearings on comprehensive welfare reform and related issues.

The hearing will be 6 p.m. Wednesday in Norfolk City Council chambers, on the 11th floor of City Hall. The forum will be chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James. The hearings are being held to gather comments on several areas of welfare reform.

{REST} ``The replacement of dependency with opportunity will be the first order of business,'' said David Caprara, the commission's executive director. ``But there are ramifications in education reform, tenant management of public housing, home-ownership programs, safe neighborhoods, health care, transitional benefits, job creation and child-support enforcement.''

The commission will review public comments for possible recommendations to the governor in December, Caprara said.

There will be four categories of recommendations: executive action by the governor; a 1995 legislative package to the General Assembly; requests for federal waivers to give localities more flexibility in welfare programs; and private sector involvement.

So far, about 35 Hampton Roads residents have signed up to speak. To register, call 1-800-562-4694, or sign in at the hearing. by CNB