Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB940 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 940 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 940
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	Relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
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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. The legislature finds that many low-income households struggle to purchase food due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices. 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 disadvantaged citizens. The legislature also finds that in November 2022, over one hundred fifty thousand people in Hawaii participated in SNAP. Hawaii secures over $950,000,000 annually in SNAP funding, yet the need for food in Hawaii remains unmet. Households with incomes above two hundred per cent of the poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, are ineligible for SNAP benefits, yet these household are still unable to achieve self-sufficiency. A household of four earning $64,000 per year is ineligible for SNAP benefits yet earns $20,000 less than the amount necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and afford basic needs. The legislature further finds that the two hundred per cent poverty level cutoff creates an extreme benefits cliff in which an additional $1 per month earned by a household can result in over $2,900 in SNAP benefits lost per year for a single adult. For a household of four, an additional $1 per month earned can result in $10,000 in SNAP benefits lost per year. In addition, SNAP's benefits cliff disincentivizes individuals from reaching their greatest potential, since individuals must determine whether the financial benefits of pursuing economic opportunities exceed the potential loss in food assistance. These Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) individuals and households are in dire need of the very assistance from which they are disqualified. Hawaii not only has the opportunity but the responsibility to help these households. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds and provide an additional minimum benefit of $250 per month per person for households eligible for SNAP who have incomes below the two hundred per cent federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, and provide additional assistance to households whose incomes are too high to qualify for SNAP benefits by expanding SNAP eligibility beyond the two hundred per cent federal poverty line and creating a gradual decline in benefits as household income increases. SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§346- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; supplemental monthly benefits. (a) The minimum monthly benefit for a household eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and whose household income is below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, shall be $250 per person; provided that the additional benefits shall be supplemented using state general funds. (b) The additional benefits established in subsection (a) shall apply to a household whose monthly income is above two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, and meets all other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility requirements; provided that for every $1 earned in excess of the two hundred per cent poverty level, the household's benefit shall decrease by 20 cents per person." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to administer additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits established pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many low-income households struggle to purchase food due to Hawaii's high cost of living and food prices. 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 disadvantaged citizens.
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51	51	The legislature also finds that in November 2022, over one hundred fifty thousand people in Hawaii participated in SNAP. Hawaii secures over $950,000,000 annually in SNAP funding, yet the need for food in Hawaii remains unmet. Households with incomes above two hundred per cent of the poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, are ineligible for SNAP benefits, yet these household are still unable to achieve self-sufficiency. A household of four earning $64,000 per year is ineligible for SNAP benefits yet earns $20,000 less than the amount necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and afford basic needs.
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53	53	The legislature further finds that the two hundred per cent poverty level cutoff creates an extreme benefits cliff in which an additional $1 per month earned by a household can result in over $2,900 in SNAP benefits lost per year for a single adult. For a household of four, an additional $1 per month earned can result in $10,000 in SNAP benefits lost per year. In addition, SNAP's benefits cliff disincentivizes individuals from reaching their greatest potential, since individuals must determine whether the financial benefits of pursuing economic opportunities exceed the potential loss in food assistance. These Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) individuals and households are in dire need of the very assistance from which they are disqualified. Hawaii not only has the opportunity but the responsibility to help these households.
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55	55	The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds and provide an additional minimum benefit of $250 per month per person for households eligible for SNAP who have incomes below the two hundred per cent federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, and provide additional assistance to households whose incomes are too high to qualify for SNAP benefits by expanding SNAP eligibility beyond the two hundred per cent federal poverty line and creating a gradual decline in benefits as household income increases.
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57	57	SECTION 2. 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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59	59	"§346- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; supplemental monthly benefits. (a) The minimum monthly benefit for a household eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and whose household income is below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, shall be $250 per person; provided that the additional benefits shall be supplemented using state general funds.
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61	61	(b) The additional benefits established in subsection (a) shall apply to a household whose monthly income is above two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture, and meets all other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility requirements; provided that for every $1 earned in excess of the two hundred per cent poverty level, the household's benefit shall decrease by 20 cents per person."
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63	63	SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to administer additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
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65	65	The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
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67	67	SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
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69	69	SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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73	73	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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75	75	INTRODUCED BY:
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119	119	Report Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Minimum Monthly Benefits; Eligibility; Department of Human Services; Appropriation Description: Establishes an additional minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit of $250 per month per person for SNAP-eligible households whose income is below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Requires that SNAP-eligible households whose monthly income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level receive a graduated decline of additional SNAP benefits. Requires state general funds to be used to supplement the cost of the additional benefits. Appropriates funds. 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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125	125	Report Title:
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127	127	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Minimum Monthly Benefits; Eligibility; Department of Human Services; Appropriation
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131	131	Description:
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133	133	Establishes an additional minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit of $250 per month per person for SNAP-eligible households whose income is below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Requires that SNAP-eligible households whose monthly income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level receive a graduated decline of additional SNAP benefits. Requires state general funds to be used to supplement the cost of the additional benefits. Appropriates funds.
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141	141	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.