SB 58: RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    General assistance to households upon the governor's declaration of a state of emergency.  (a)  Upon issuance of a proclamation by the governor declaring a state of emergency in the State under section 127A-14, the department may administer and provide public assistance during the emergency period to persons who are not otherwise provided for under this chapter and who are unable to provide sufficient support for themselves or those dependent upon them; provided that the persons:

     (1)  Are bona fide residents of this State, as determined by the residency criteria established in section 346‑71(a);

     (2)  Have furnished to the department for each member of the persons' assistance unit a social security account number or verification that an application was made with the Social Security Administration for a social security account number for each member of the assistance unit; and

     (3)  Satisfy the income criteria adopted by the department and other conditions set forth in this section.

     (b)  A person between eighteen and sixty-five years of age shall be eligible for general assistance under this section if the person is:

     (1)  Determined to be needy in accordance with standards established by this chapter and the rules adopted under subsection (f);

     (2)  Unable to meet the income and financial resources eligibility criteria for the federal supplemental security income program or the program's successor; and

     (3)  Unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of the governor-declared state of emergency.

     (c)  The allowance for general assistance under this section shall not exceed the monthly federal supplemental security income benefit payment for the State.

     (d)  Applicants and recipients shall satisfy all applicable provisions of this section.  Recipients disqualified for failure to comply with any of the requirements under this section shall be excluded from general assistance under this section for a period not to exceed twelve months.

     (e)  Failure of any adult member of the assistance unit to comply with the requirements or conditions of general assistance under this section shall disqualify the entire assistance unit from receiving financial assistance under this section; provided that the assistance unit shall not be disqualified if the adult member is disqualified for failing to meet the work requirement and the assistance unit was formed after the failure had occurred.

     (f)  Within the limitations of this section, the department shall, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, determine:

     (1)  The allowance for general assistance under this section based on the total amount available from the Hawaii hurricane relief fund pursuant to section 431P-   and applicable federal funds;

     (2)  A method for determining assistance amounts; and

     (3)  Other necessary provisions to implement, administer, and provide general assistance under this section.

     (g)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Assistance unit" means a person or group of persons whose needs and income are considered in determining the payment of financial assistance under this section.  "Assistance unit" includes the person or persons' dependents.

     "Substantial gainful activity" means work for which the person earns at minimum the amount set forth in the Social Security Administration's Substantial Gainful Activity Earnings Guidelines."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 431P, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§431P-    Public assistance during a governor-declared state of emergency.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department of human services may expend up to            from the fund to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a governor-declared state of emergency pursuant to section 346-  ; provided that any funds expended for the purposes of this section from the fund shall be reimbursed with any federal funds as appropriate or a general fund appropriation in the regular session immediately succeeding the expenditure."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.

Report Title:

DHS; General Assistance; State of Emergency; Emergency Supplementary Income; Eligibility; Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund

Description:

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-declared state of emergency.  Allows the Department of Human Services to expend funds from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a Governor-declared state of emergency.  Effective 12/31/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    General assistance to households upon the governor's declaration of a state of emergency.  (a)  Upon issuance of a proclamation by the governor declaring a state of emergency in the State under section 127A-14, the department may administer and provide public assistance during the emergency period to persons who are not otherwise provided for under this chapter and who are unable to provide sufficient support for themselves or those dependent upon them; provided that the persons:

     (1)  Are bona fide residents of this State, as determined by the residency criteria established in section 346‑71(a);

     (2)  Have furnished to the department for each member of the persons' assistance unit a social security account number or verification that an application was made with the Social Security Administration for a social security account number for each member of the assistance unit; and

     (3)  Satisfy the income criteria adopted by the department and other conditions set forth in this section.

     (b)  A person between eighteen and sixty-five years of age shall be eligible for general assistance under this section if the person is:

     (1)  Determined to be needy in accordance with standards established by this chapter and the rules adopted under subsection (f);

     (2)  Unable to meet the income and financial resources eligibility criteria for the federal supplemental security income program or the program's successor; and

     (3)  Unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of the governor-declared state of emergency.

     (c)  The allowance for general assistance under this section shall not exceed the monthly federal supplemental security income benefit payment for the State.

     (d)  Applicants and recipients shall satisfy all applicable provisions of this section.  Recipients disqualified for failure to comply with any of the requirements under this section shall be excluded from general assistance under this section for a period not to exceed twelve months.

     (e)  Failure of any adult member of the assistance unit to comply with the requirements or conditions of general assistance under this section shall disqualify the entire assistance unit from receiving financial assistance under this section; provided that the assistance unit shall not be disqualified if the adult member is disqualified for failing to meet the work requirement and the assistance unit was formed after the failure had occurred.

     (f)  Within the limitations of this section, the department shall, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, determine:

     (1)  The allowance for general assistance under this section based on the total amount available from applicable federal funds;

     (2)  A method for determining assistance amounts; and

     (3)  Other necessary provisions to implement, administer, and provide general assistance under this section.

     (g)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Assistance unit" means a person or group of persons whose needs and income are considered in determining the payment of financial assistance under this section.  "Assistance unit" includes the person or persons' dependents.

     "Substantial gainful activity" means work for which the person earns at minimum the amount set forth in the Social Security Administration's Substantial Gainful Activity Earnings Guideline."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DHS; General Assistance; State of Emergency; Emergency Supplementary Income; Eligibility

Description:

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-Declared State of Emergency.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 645

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 58

       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 S.B. No. 58 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-declared state of emergency.

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

     Your Committee finds that public assistance is a critical component of disaster management, ensuring that individuals and communities can survive, recover, and rebuild after a crisis.  Your Committee further finds that emergency situations often overwhelm local resources and that state and federal governments are needed to step in and provide financial aid, logistical support, and coordination to manage the crisis effectively.  This measure supports the provision of essential resources and support to individuals, families, and communities that are affected by disasters or crises, including certain "able-bodied" individuals between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five years of age.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language to allow the Department of Human Services to expend funds from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a Governor-declared state of emergency; provided that any funds expended from the fund shall be reimbursed with any federal funds as appropriate or a general fund appropriation in the regular session immediately succeeding the expenditure;

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified amount as the maximum amount of funds the Department of Human Services may expand from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.  Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an amount to be requested by the Department of Human Services, as the highest amount needed to provide public assistance during a Governor-declared state of emergency.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 58, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 58, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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