HI HB479

Amends Chapter 346 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to add a new section authorizing the Department of Human Services to provide emergency general assistance during a governor-declared state of emergency under section 127A-14.

Eligible recipients must be bona fide Hawaii residents meeting residency criteria in section 346-71(a), provide social security account numbers or verification of SSA application, and meet income criteria established by the department.

Persons aged 18-65 qualify if they are determined needy, unable to meet federal supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility criteria, and unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to the emergency.

Monthly assistance payments cannot exceed the federal SSI benefit payment amount for Hawaii, with the department establishing allowance amounts, assistance determination methods, and implementation rules.

Recipients who fail to comply with program requirements are excluded for up to 12 months; entire assistance units are disqualified if an adult member fails to comply, except when the unit was formed after a member's work requirement failure occurred.