HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1987

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to A hawaii senior benefits payment program.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 349, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part    .  Hawaii Senior Benefits Payment program

     §349-     Hawaii senior benefits payment program; established.  (a)  There is established within the executive office on aging for administrative purposes the Hawaii senior benefits payment program to provide cash benefits for living expenses to senior citizens in the State, as far as practicable pursuant to appropriations provided by law.

     (b)  If the executive office on aging determines that there are insufficient appropriated funds to meet the demands of the program during any fiscal year, the executive office on aging may reduce or eliminate the cash benefit available to any recipient of the program.

     §349-     Cash assistance benefit.  (a)  To be eligible for a cash assistance benefit under the Hawaii senior benefits payment program, an individual shall:

     (1)  Be sixty-five years of age or older;

     (2)  Be a resident of the State;

     (3)  Be a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien;

     (4)  Have a household income that does not exceed one hundred seventy-five per cent of the annual federal poverty line for the State, as established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Community Service Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. section 9902; and

     (5)  Complete an application in a format prescribed by the executive office on aging;

provided that any otherwise qualified individual who resides in a prison, jail, nursing home, or institution for mental health, whether public or private, shall not be qualified for any benefit under this part.

     (b)  An eligible individual shall receive a monthly cash assistance payment beginning on August 1, 2020, as follows:

     (1)  $        if the individual's household income does not exceed seventy-five per cent of the federal poverty line for Hawaii;

     (2)  $        if the individual's household income does not exceed one hundred per cent but is above seventy-five per cent of the federal poverty line for Hawaii; or

     (3)  $        if the individual's household income does not exceed one hundred seventy-five per cent but is above one hundred per cent of the federal poverty line for Hawaii.

     (c)  Cash assistance provided pursuant to this section is subject to appropriation.

     (d)  For purposes of this section:

     (1)  "Resident" means a person for whom Hawaii is both domicile and place of physical residence; and

     (2)  "Qualified alien" means a lawfully admitted permanent resident under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

     §349-     Continuation of benefits; absence from the State.  An eligible individual who leaves the State for more than thirty consecutive calendar days may not receive a cash benefit pursuant to this part during that absence, unless the individual's absence is temporary and is for one of the following reasons:

     (1)  To receive medical treatment for the eligible individual;

     (2)  To accompany the eligible individual's family member who is receiving medical treatment outside the State; or

     (3)  For vacation or business travel outside the State, or for any other absence totaling less than thirty consecutive calendar days, unless the eligible individual has applied for and received a time extension from the executive office on aging.

     §349-     Recovery of improper assistance or benefits.  An individual is liable to the executive office on aging for the value of assistance or benefits improperly paid to the individual under this part if the improper payment was based on inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the individual.  In any civil action brought by the State to recover from the individual the value of assistance or benefits improperly paid under this part, the State may recover from the individual the costs of investigation and prosecution of the civil action, including attorney fees."

     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 2020-2021 for the Hawaii senior benefits payment program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 



 

Report Title:

Executive Office on Aging; Hawaii Senior Benefits Payment Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes within the Executive Office on Aging the Hawaii Senior Benefits Payment Program to provide qualifying senior citizens in the State with a monthly stipend to defray cost of living expenses.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2020.

 

 

 

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