HCR 146: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE WHEN CAPABLE.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE WHEN CAPABLE.

     WHEREAS, many low-income households struggle to purchase food due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices; and

     WHEREAS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is crucial to providing necessary food assistance to some of Hawaii's most economically disadvantaged residents; and

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, SNAP supports over one hundred thirty thousand individuals, bringing more than $630,000,000 into the State's economy each year; and

     WHEREAS, these benefits help economically vulnerable households meet their basic nutritional needs without sacrificing their financial security; and

     WHEREAS, the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project designed to boost SNAP enrollment among low-income older adults ages sixty years or older by tackling barriers to participation in SNAP; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP enhances program efficiency, simplifies benefit delivery by streamlining the application and certification processes, waives the recertification interview requirement, allows for greater flexibility in verification, and extends the certification period to thirty-six months; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP largely applies to households made up entirely of older adults with no earned income, although certain projects also include adults with disabilities who have no earned income or allow children to be present in the household, under certain conditions; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii does not participate in ESAP; and

     WHEREAS, if Hawaii were to participate in ESAP, older adults in the State would face fewer barriers to accessing SNAP benefits, which could lead to increased enrollment among low‑income seniors and an improvement to overall food security and health outcomes; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State when capable; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to seek any necessary federal approvals or waivers to implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State, including amending its rules, policies, and procedures; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Elderly Simplified Application Project; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, many low-income households struggle to purchase food due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices; and

     WHEREAS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is crucial to providing necessary food assistance to some of Hawaii's most economically disadvantaged residents; and

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, SNAP supports over one hundred thirty thousand individuals, bringing more than $630,000,000 into the State's economy each year; and

     WHEREAS, these benefits help economically vulnerable households meet their basic nutritional needs without sacrificing their financial security; and

     WHEREAS, the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project designed to boost SNAP enrollment among low-income older adults ages sixty years or older by tackling barriers to participation in SNAP; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP enhances program efficiency, simplifies benefit delivery by streamlining the application and certification processes, waives the recertification interview requirement, allows for greater flexibility in verification, and extends the certification period to thirty-six months; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP largely applies to households made up entirely of older adults with no earned income, although certain projects also include adults with disabilities who have no earned income or allow children to be present in the household, under certain conditions; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii does not participate in ESAP; and

     WHEREAS, if Hawaii were to participate in ESAP, older adults in the State would face fewer barriers to accessing SNAP benefits, which could lead to increased enrollment among low-income seniors and an improvement to overall food security and health outcomes; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to seek any necessary federal approvals or waivers to implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State, including amending its rules, policies, and procedures; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Elderly Simplified Application Project; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of human services to apply for and implement the elderly simplified application project in the state.

     WHEREAS, many low-income households struggle to purchase food due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices; and

     WHEREAS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is crucial to providing necessary food assistance to some of Hawaii's most economically disadvantaged residents; and

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, SNAP supports over one hundred thirty thousand individuals, bringing more than $630,000,000 into the State's economy each year; and

     WHEREAS, these benefits help economically vulnerable households meet their basic nutritional needs without sacrificing their financial security; and

     WHEREAS, the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project designed to boost SNAP enrollment among low-income older adults ages sixty years or older by tackling barriers to participation in SNAP; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP enhances program efficiency, simplifies benefit delivery by streamlining the application and certification processes, waives the recertification interview requirement, allows for greater flexibility in verification, and extends the certification period to thirty-six months; and

     WHEREAS, ESAP largely applies to households made up entirely of older adults with no earned income, although certain projects also include adults with disabilities who have no earned income or allow children to be present in the household, under certain conditions; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii does not participate in ESAP; and

     WHEREAS, if Hawaii were to participate in ESAP, older adults in the State would face fewer barriers to accessing SNAP benefits, which could lead to increased enrollment among low-income seniors and an improvement to overall food security and health outcomes; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to seek any necessary federal approvals or waivers to implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State, including amending its rules, policies, and procedures; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Director of Human Services.

Report Title: 

Department of Human Services; Elderly Simplified Application Project; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1943

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 146

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally-funded program administered by the Department of Human Services' Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division at the state-level, and is crucial to providing necessary food assistance to some of the State's most economically disadvantaged residents.  Your Committee further finds that SNAP's Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project designed to boost program enrollment among low-income older adults ages sixty years or older by tackling barriers to participation in SNAP, including enhancing program efficiency, simplifying benefit delivery by streamlining the application and certification processes, waiving the recertification interview requirement, allowing for greater flexibility in verification, and extending the certification period to thirty-six months.  However, your Committee notes that the State does not participate in ESAP.  By requesting the Department of Human Services to implement ESAP in the State, this measure will reduce barriers to accessing SNAP benefits for older adults, increase SNAP enrollment among low‑income seniors, and improve overall food security and health outcomes for the elderly population in the State.

     Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of Human Services that the proposed implementation of the Elderly Simplified Application Project and subsequent increase in the number of SNAP eligible senior households would overload the Department's capacity to process benefit eligibility determinations due to high vacancy rates in their Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division and an outdated eligibility system that is expected to be replaced in 2026.  Therefore, amendments to this resolution are necessary to address this concern.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Department of Human Services is requested to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State when capable; and

     (2)  Amending its title accordingly.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1640

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 146

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 146 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating, Active Living Coalition; Hawai‘i Hunger Action Network; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that many low-income households in Hawaii struggle to afford food due to the State's high cost of living, making food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) critical to ensuring nutritional security.  Despite SNAP's role in supporting over one hundred thirty thousand residents and contributing significantly to the local economy, barriers to enrollment and participation persist, particularly for older adults.  This measure addresses this issue by requesting the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which streamlines the SNAP application process, waives certain requirements, and extends certification periods to improve accessibility for seniors.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 146, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 146, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,