Bill Text: HI HB1375 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Human Services; Welfare; Financial Assistance Advisory Council
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-4)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2014-02-19 - Received notice of discharge of conferees (Hse. Com. No. 41). [HB1375 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1375-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1375 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to human services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that current State welfare policy often penalizes welfare recipients who seek job promotions or higher paying career opportunities. This increased income often causes welfare recipients to lose their beneficiary status, thus perpetuating financial hardship. The legislature further finds there is a need to revise the welfare payment system to allow recipients to advance in their careers without necessarily losing their beneficiary status.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish a task force that shall develop a
restructured welfare payment system; and
(2) Re-establish the exit and retention bonus program to
encourage welfare recipients to transition back into
the workforce.
SECTION 2. (a) Beginning no later than January 1, 2014, the department of human services, including the Financial Assistance Advisory Council, shall convene a task force to revise and restructure the welfare payment structure to incentivize qualifying welfare recipients to advance in their careers while retaining their beneficiary status. The task force shall:
(1) Examine the current welfare payment structure;
(2) Revise the welfare payment structure to incentivize
qualifying recipients to advance in their careers or
seek high paying jobs without necessarily causing
recipients to lose their welfare beneficiary status;
(3) Create a sliding scale payment system to incrementally
reduce welfare payments to recipients as they advance
in their careers or obtain higher paying jobs; and
(4) Explore other possible methods to incentivize welfare
recipients to seek financial self-sufficiency.
(b) The task force shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2015 regular session on its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for an implementation plan or legislation.
SECTION 3. Beginning no later than January 1, 2014, the department of human services shall re-establish the exit and retention bonus program. The program shall:
(1) Be available to recipients who voluntarily terminate
their welfare benefits within a twenty-four month
period and remain out of the welfare system;
(2) Provide bonuses available after three, six, twelve, and
twenty-four months, with bonus amounts increasing for
more hours of employment; and
(3) Provide a maximum bonus amount over a period of twenty-
four months.
SECTION 4. 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 2013-2014 to re-establish the exit and retention bonus program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Human Services; Welfare
Description:
Establishes a task force that shall develop a restructured welfare payment system and re-establishes the exit and retention bonus program to encourage welfare recipients to transition back into the workforce.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
