Bill > HB2114

This bill establishes the Hawaii Benefits Hub Working Group to develop a comprehensive plan for a centralized digital system, the "Hawaii Benefits Hub," where residents can apply for various state-managed public assistance programs, such as financial aid, food assistance, healthcare, and housing, through a single, unified platform, thereby simplifying the application process and ensuring continued access to essential services. The working group, composed of legislative members, state department directors (human services, health, labor and industrial relations), and the chief information officer, will also plan for referral, tracking, compliance, and coordination systems that could connect individuals with community organizations, educational opportunities, and employers, and will submit interim and final reports with recommendations to the Legislature by specific dates, with the working group dissolving on June 30, 2028. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to hire a consultant and a project manager to support the working group's efforts, with the Office of Enterprise Technology Services responsible for expending these funds, and the entire act is set to take effect on July 1, 3000.