Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB479 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 479 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to public assistance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 479
4	4	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to public assistance.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section 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 such persons: (1) Are bona fide residents of this State, as determined by the residency criteria set out in section 346‑71(a); (2) Have furnished to the department for each member of their 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; 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 its 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 this 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 such 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) As used in 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 and their dependents. "Substantial gainful activity" means work for which the person earns at minimum the amount set forth in the Social Security Administration's SGA Earnings Guideline." SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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51	51	"§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 such persons:
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53	53	(1) Are bona fide residents of this State, as determined by the residency criteria set out in section 346‑71(a);
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55	55	(2) Have furnished to the department for each member of their 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; and
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57	57	(3) Satisfy the income criteria adopted by the department and other conditions set forth in this section.
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59	59	(b) A person between eighteen and sixty-five years of age shall be eligible for general assistance under this section if the person is:
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61	61	(1) Determined to be needy in accordance with standards established by this chapter and the rules adopted under subsection (f);
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63	63	(2) Unable to meet the income and financial resources eligibility criteria for the federal supplemental security income program or its successor; and
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65	65	(3) Unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of the governor-declared state of emergency.
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67	67	(c) The allowance for general assistance under this section shall not exceed the monthly federal supplemental security income benefit payment for this State.
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69	69	(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.
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71	71	(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 such failure had occurred.
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73	73	(f) Within the limitations of this section, the department shall, by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, determine:
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75	75	(1) The allowance for general assistance under this section based on the total amount available from applicable federal funds;
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77	77	(2) A method for determining assistance amounts; and
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79	79	(3) Other necessary provisions to implement, administer, and provide general assistance under this section.
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81	81	(g) As used in this section:
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83	83	"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 and their dependents.
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85	85	"Substantial gainful activity" means work for which the person earns at minimum the amount set forth in the Social Security Administration's SGA Earnings Guideline."
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87	87	SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
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89	89	SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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93	93	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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95	95	INTRODUCED BY:
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97	97	_____________________________
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103	103	Report Title: Department of Human Services; 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.
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109	109	Report Title:
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111	111	Department of Human Services; General Assistance; State of Emergency; Emergency Supplementary Income; Eligibility
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115	115	Description:
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117	117	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.
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125	125	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.