HB 672 Summary

• Adds a new section to Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, allowing the Department of Human Services to provide general assistance during a Governor-declared state of emergency to eligible residents unable to support themselves.

• Requires applicants to be bona fide Hawaii residents, provide social security account numbers for each household member, and meet income criteria established by the department.

• Establishes eligibility for persons aged 18-65 who are determined needy, unable to meet federal Supplemental Security Income criteria, and unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to the emergency.

• Limits monthly assistance payments to not exceed the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit amount for Hawaii.

• Disqualifies entire assistance units from benefits for failure to comply with program requirements, except when non-compliant members joined after the violation occurred.