THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

672

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Eliminate language that subjects the use of the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund to the discretion of the director of finance;

     (2)  Expressly allow the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund to be used to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners; and

     (3)  Establish one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent position to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaii ABLE savings program.

     SECTION 2.  Section 256B-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§256B-8[]]  Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund within the treasury of the State.  The fund shall consist of moneys received from an ABLE savings program manager, any governmental or private grants, and any general fund appropriations for the program.

     (b)  [The fund shall be used if the director elects to accept deposits from contributors, rather than have deposits sent directly to the program manager.]  The fund shall consist of any moneys deposited by contributors in accordance with this chapter [which] that are not deposited directly with the program manager.

     (c)  The fund shall be authorized to use funds to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners as a means of encouraging the participation of eligible individuals and families to save funds; provided that the director shall maintain and keep separate records to account for any incentive program payments.

     [(c)] (d)  All interest derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the savings program trust fund shall be credited to the fund.  At the end of any fiscal year, all unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the savings program trust fund shall remain in the savings program trust fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or any other funds.

     [(d)] (e)  All expenses incurred by the director in developing and administering the ABLE savings program shall be payable from the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund."

     SECTION 3.  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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be deposited into the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the director of finance for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent position to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaii ABLE savings program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the director of finance for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii ABLE Savings Program; Individuals with a Disability and Families; Incentive Payments; Appropriations

 

Description:

Eliminates language that subjects the use of the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund to the discretion of the Director of Finance.  Expressly allows the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund to be used to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners.  Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent position to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program.

 

 

 

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