Bill > HB672

This bill authorizes the Department of Human Services to provide temporary public assistance during a Governor-declared State of Emergency to eligible residents who are not already covered by existing assistance programs. To qualify, individuals must be bona fide Hawaii residents, provide social security numbers for all household members, and meet specific income criteria. For people between 18 and 65 years old, eligibility requires being determined as needy, unable to qualify for federal Supplemental Security Income, and unable to work due to the emergency. The financial assistance cannot exceed the monthly federal Supplemental Security Income benefit amount. The bill establishes that recipients must comply with program requirements, and failure to do so can result in disqualification from assistance for up to 12 months. The Department of Human Services will determine specific assistance amounts and implementation details through administrative rules, considering available federal funds. The bill also defines key terms like "assistance unit" and "substantial gainful activity" to provide clear guidelines for administering emergency public assistance.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=672&year=2026