STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1810

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1263

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ABLE SAVINGS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the sources of funding for, and amend the authorized uses of moneys in, the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Expands the sources of funding for the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund;

(2) Amends the authorized uses of moneys in the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund;

(3) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Budget and Finance to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners; and

(4) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Health for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position within the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaii ABLE savings program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that expanding the sources of funding for, and amending the authorized uses of moneys in, the Hawaii ABLE savings program trust fund will enable individuals having disabilities to accrue moneys to pay for various expenses, including medical and dental care, education, community-based supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1263, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair