Report Title:

Welfare Payments; Standard of Need

Description:

Increases standard of need from the 1993 federal poverty level to an annually updated current poverty level. Includes the general assistance (GA) and aged, blind, and disabled programs for the calculation. Removes limitation on making GA payments only from total appropriations made for GA.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

565

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to public assistance.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 346-53, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) This subsection [does not] shall also apply to general assistance to households without minor dependents[.] and to assistance to the aged, blind, and disabled. The standard of need for families of given sizes shall equal the poverty level established by the federal government [in 1993,] for the current year, updated annually, prorated over a twelve-month period.

The assistance allowance provided shall be based on a percentage of the standard of need. For exempt households and households in which all caretaker relatives are minors, living independently with minor dependents and attending school, the assistance allowance shall be set at sixty-two and one-half per cent of the standard of need. For all other households, the assistance allowance shall be set no higher than sixty-two and one-half per cent of the standard of need and set no lower than fifty per cent of the standard of need. The standard of need shall be determined by dividing the [1993] current annual federal poverty level by twelve and rounding down the quotient. The remaining quotient shall be multiplied by the per cent as set by the director by rules pursuant to chapter 91 and the final product shall be rounded down to determine the assistance allowance; provided that:

(1) The department may increase or reduce the assistance allowance as determined in this subsection for non-exempt households for the purpose of providing work incentives or services under part XI of this chapter;

(2) No reduction shall be allowed that jeopardizes eligibility for or receipt of federal funds;

(3) Reductions in the assistance allowance shall be limited to no more than one per year; and

(4) No non-exempt household, which includes an adult who has received sixty cumulative months of temporary assistance to needy families with minor dependents, shall be eligible for an assistance allowance, unless authorized by federal regulations.

(b) The director shall determine the allowance for general assistance to households without minor dependents based upon the [total amount appropriated for general assistance to households without minor dependents,] standard of need, among other relevant factors."

SECTION 2. Section 346-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

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

(1) The allowance for general assistance to households without minor dependents based upon the [total amount appropriated for general assistance to households without minor dependents;] standard of need;

(2) A method for determining assistance amounts; and

(3) Other necessary provisions to implement general assistance to households without minor dependents."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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