HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1347
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the supplemental nutrition assistance program, formerly known as the food stamp program, is a federal and state program to help low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy and be productive members of society.  According to the department of human services, Hawaii secures over $500,000,000 annually and ranks thirty-seventh for supplemental nutrition assistance program participation per capita.  In 2010, the federal government increased funding to the supplemental nutrition assistance program and changed the rules to allow more families to qualify.  Because many families' receipt of unemployment checks caused their gross income to exceed the one hundred thirty per cent threshold, the federal government increased the gross income limit to two hundred per cent.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of human services to respond to the United States Department of Agriculture's mandate to amend supplemental nutrition assistance program income eligibility requirements, thereby increasing the number of potential beneficiaries of the program.

     SECTION 2.  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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the department of human services:

     (1)  To increase staff, as needed;

     (2)  To improve the department of human service's electronic system's capacity to streamline the supplemental nutrition assistance program processing system, as needed; and

     (3)  To contract for services to provide outreach awareness, assist in the filing of applications for those who may be eligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and respond to Hawaii's low rank among states who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to increase staff, improve systems, and contract for necessary services relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

 

 

 

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