Bill > HB1099

This bill provides an emergency appropriation of $5,467,164 to the Department of Human Services (DHS) to address a penalty assessed by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rates. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii experienced increased payment error rates due to waived requirements and staffing challenges, resulting in a penalty of $10,934,327. The bill allows the state to reinvest 50% of the penalty ($5,467,164) into developing a new eligibility system aimed at reducing payment errors. If successful in bringing the error rate below the national average of 11.68%, the state will not be required to pay the remaining 50% of the penalty. The funding will support modifications to an ongoing eligibility system development project, expected to be completed in late 2025, with the goal of automating tasks and increasing efficiency for eligibility workers. The bill acknowledges that the general fund expenditure ceiling will be exceeded by this appropriation, but argues that the expenditure is necessary to serve the public interest and meet critical administrative needs.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1099&year=2025