Bill > SB2669

This bill establishes the Hawaii Benefits Hub within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to streamline the process for residents applying for state-managed social assistance programs, such as food or housing assistance, by creating a central portal where individuals can access real-time information on eligibility requirements and submit applications. The hub will utilize advanced data management tools, including data governance for privacy protection, a data management platform to collect information from employers, educational institutions, and government agencies, and a data science tool with artificial intelligence capabilities to predict applicant needs and provide alerts about potential benefit loss or opportunities to meet community engagement requirements, like work or volunteer hours, which are increasingly becoming a factor in eligibility for programs like Medicaid. To fund this initiative, the bill appropriates $4,250,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027, covering costs for system implementation, staffing, data tools, computing capacity, and the user interface, with the goal of improving access to benefits for Hawaii's residents and reducing administrative burdens on state agencies.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2669&year=2026