Report Title:

QUEST; Pregnant Immigrants; Appropriation

Description:

Expands QUEST coverage to include pregnant immigrant women. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

892

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to human services.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 346-59.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§346-59.4[]] Medical assistance to other children[.] and pregnant immigrants. The department shall provide state-funded medical assistance, of up to two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level for Hawaii, to persons who are less than nineteen years of age and up to one hundred eighty-five per cent for persons who are pregnant and who are:

(1) Legal permanent residents who arrived after August 22, 1996;

(2) Persons who are permanently residing under color of law; and

(3) Nonimmigrants from the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands who are citizens of:

(A) The Marshall Islands;

(B) The Federated States of Micronesia; or

(C) Palau, as defined by the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, P.L. 99-239, or the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Government of Palau, P.L. 99-658,

who are otherwise eligible for benefits under the State's medicaid programs, including QUEST and the State's children health insurance program, but are ineligible due to restricted eligibility rules imposed by Title XXI of the Social Security Act, the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996, the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, P.L. 99-239, the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Government of Palau, P.L. 99-658, or any other provision of federal law denying medical assistance to nonimmigrants who are citizens of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau."

SECTION 2. 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 2003-2004, and the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide public medical assistance for pregnant immigrant women who qualify for benefits pursuant to section 346-59.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

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 Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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.