Bill Text: HI HB779 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Human Services; Welfare; Financial Assistance Advisory Council

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-12 - The committee(s) on HUS recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB779 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-HB779-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

779

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.  Earning more from working often causes welfare recipients to lose their beneficiary status, thus perpetuating financial hardship.  The legislature further finds that 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 request the financial assistance advisory council to assist the department of human services in proposing recommendations to restructure the welfare payment system and to report any findings to the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  Beginning no later than January 1, 2016, the financial assistance advisory council, established pursuant to section 346-14.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall assist the department of human services in proposing recommendations to restructure the welfare payment system.  The financial assistance advisory council shall:

     (1)  Examine the current welfare payment structure;

     (2)  Examine possible ways to revise the welfare payment structure to incentivize recipients to advance in their careers or seek higher-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 financial assistance advisory council shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2016 regular session on its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for an implementation plan or legislation.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Human Services; Welfare; Financial Assistance Advisory Council

 

Description:

Requests the financial assistance advisory council to assist the department of human services in proposing recommendations to restructure the welfare payment system and report any findings to the legislature.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

 

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