HI SB1159

Appropriates unspecified sums from Hawaii's general fund for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to reimburse the federal government for loans made to the State for unemployment benefit payments.

Directs the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to expend the appropriated funds for repayment of federal unemployment compensation trust fund loans.

Addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hawaii's economy, which depleted the unemployment compensation trust fund by over $600,000,000 in less than three months when unemployment reached 25 percent.

Requires the State to repay hundreds of millions of dollars borrowed from the federal government to maintain sufficient funds for unemployment benefits during the pandemic crisis.

Takes effect on July 1, 2050.