Increases standard of need from the 1993 federal poverty level to the current poverty level. Includes the aged, blind, and disabled in determining the amounts of assistance. Removes limitation on making general assistance payments only from total appropriations for that purpose. (SB475 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that as the cost of living increases each year, the standard of need in Hawaii, which is based on the federal poverty level for the State, is not adjusted to reflect this increase and is still based on the federal poverty level in 1993. The legislature further finds that the medically needy income standard is based on the standard of need for the State and is adjusted when the standard of need payment is changed.

The purpose of this Act is to adjust the State's standard of need by updating it to reflect the current federal poverty level for Hawaii. The legislature's intent is also to adjust the medically needy income standard to reflect the annual standard of need for the State.

SECTION 2. Section 346-53, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) This subsection [does not] shall apply to general assistance to households [without] with minor dependents[.] and includes the aged, blind, and disabled. The standard of need for families of given sizes shall equal per cent of the current poverty level established by the federal government [in 1993,] 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 per cent of the [1993] current 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:

(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 3. 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, determine:

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2099.