STAND. COM. REP. NO. 982

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 479

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 479, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ABLE SAVINGS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify provisions of the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Repeals language that gives the Director of Finance discretion to use moneys in the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund if the Director elects to accept deposits from contributors instead of sending deposits directly to the ABLE program manager;

(2) Authorizes the Director of Finance to expend moneys in the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund to provide incentive payments to ABLE account owners; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to fund incentive payments and to establish one full-time equivalent (FTE) position for the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Disability and Communication Access Board, Easterseals Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Special Education Advisory Council, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program has helped individuals with disabilities save money in tax-advantaged accounts without jeopardizing their eligibility for public assistance programs. Your Committee further finds that many ABLE account owners have been able to save for disability-related expenses, including expenses related to education, healthcare, and housing, while maintaining financial security. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure will help to expand this beneficial program to more qualified individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 479, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair