Report Title:

Public Assistance; Disregard of Assets; Report to Legislature

Description:

Requires the Department of Human Services to submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009 discussing the disregard of specified assets for purposes of determining eligibility for certain public assistance benefits.  (HB2039 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2039
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.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.  (a)  The department of human services shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009 identifying and discussing current exempted assets and assets that have been proposed to be exempted, with regard to determining public assistance benefits.

     (b)  Proposed assets to be exempted include:

     (1)  Personal property;

     (2)  Real property;

     (3)  Automobiles or motor vehicles;

     (4)  Individual development accounts;

     (5)  Individual retirement accounts;

     (6)  Burial spaces and funeral plans;

     (7)  Household goods (for example, appliances, furniture, and televisions);

     (8)  Personal effects (for example, clothes, shoes, and jewelry not intended for investment);

     (9)  The cash value of life insurance policies;

    (10)  The cash value of pension plans or funds;

    (11)  Work-related equipment (for example, tools and equipment used in a trade); and

    (12)  Liquid assets that can quickly be converted into cash (for example, bank accounts, stocks, and bonds).

     (c)  The report shall include an analysis of the current exempted assets in comparison to the assets proposed to be exempt under subsection (b).

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.