REPORT TITLE:
Welfare Reform

DESCRIPTION:
Bases cash assistance on 55%, but not less than 43%, of the 2000
federal poverty level. Increases cash assistance annually based
on the corresponding annual cost-of-living adjustment provided by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but no lower than 20% less than
the annual adjustment. Provides for reduction adjustments.
(SB2059 HD1)

2059
THE SENATE S.B. NO. S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000 H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

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A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WELFARE REFORM.

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

1 SECTION 1. Section 346-53, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is

2 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

3 "[(a) This subsection does not apply to general assistance

4 to households without minor dependents. The standard of need for

5 families of given sizes shall equal the poverty level established

6 by the federal government in 1993, prorated over a twelve-month

7 period.

8 9 percentage of the standard of need. For exempt households and

10 households in which all caretaker relatives are minors, living

11 independently with minor dependents and attending school, the

12 assistance allowance shall be set at sixty-two and one-half per

13 cent of the standard of need. For all other households, the

14 assistance allowance shall be set no higher than sixty-two and

15 one-half per cent of the standard of need and set no lower than

16 fifty per cent of the standard of need. The standard of need

17 shall be determined by dividing the 1993 federal poverty level by

18 twelve and rounding down the quotient. The remaining quotient

19 shall be multiplied by the per cent as set by the director by

20 rules pursuant to chapter 91 and the final product shall be

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1 rounded down to determine the assistance allowance; provided

2 that:

3 (1) The department may reduce the assistance allowance as

4 determined in this subsection for non-exempt households

5 for the purpose of providing work incentives or

6 services under part XI of this chapter;

7 (2) No reduction shall be allowed that jeopardizes

8 eligibility for or receipt of federal funds;

9 (3) Reductions in the assistance allowance shall be limited

10 to no more than one per year; and

11 (4) No non-exempt household, which includes an adult who

12 has received sixty cumulative months of temporary

13 assistance to needy families with minor dependents,

14 shall be eligible for an assistance allowance, unless

15 authorized by federal regulations.]

16 (a) This subsection does not apply to general assistance to

17 households without minor dependents. The standard of need for

18 families of given sizes shall equal the poverty level established

19 by the federal government in 2000, prorated over a twelve-month

20 period.

21 The assistance allowance provided:

22 (1) Effective July 1, 2000, shall be based on a percentage

23 of the standard of need as provided:

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1 (A) Fifty-five per cent of the standard of need for

2 exempt households and households in which all

3 caretaker relatives are minors, living

4 independently with minor dependents, and attending

5 school; and

6 (B) No higher than fifty-five per cent of the standard

7 of need and no lower than forty-three per cent of

8 the standard of need for all other households;

9 (2) Effective July, 2001, shall be increased annually in

10 July:

11 (A) Based on the corresponding annual cost-of-living

12 adjustment provided by the Bureau of Labor

13 Statistics for exempt households and households in

14 which all caretaker relatives are minors, living

15 independently with minor dependents, and attending

16 school; and

17 (B) To an amount no greater than the amount described

18 in paragraph (2)(A) and no lower than twenty per

19 cent less than the amount described in paragraph

20 (2)(A) for all other households;

21 (3) May be reduced by the department for non-exempt

22 households for the purpose of providing work incentives

23 or services under part XI of this chapter;

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1 (4) Shall not be reduced if reduction would jeopardize

2 eligibility for a receipt of federal funds;

3 (5) Shall be reduced no more than once per year; and

4 (6) Shall not be provided to non-exempt households, which

5 includes an adult who has received sixty cumulative

6 months of temporary assistance to needy families with

7 minor dependents, unless authorized by federal

8 regulations.

9 The standard of need shall be determined by dividing the

10 2000 federal poverty level by twelve and rounding down the

11 quotient. The remaining quotient shall be multiplied by the per

12 cent as set by the director by rules pursuant to chapter 91 and

13 the final product shall be rounded down."

14 SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.

15 New statutory material is underscored.

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