HB2114 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's residents are currently required to submit multiple application processes to apply for and verify eligibility for state-managed, federally-funded public assistance programs, such as financial and food assistance, health care coverage, or housing assistance. Residents must provide the same information multiple times for different applications and are required to repeat this process at regular intervals to maintain eligibility. Programs have different benefit eligibility requirements, which can cause further confusion for persons attempting to apply for multiple programs at the same time.

The legislature further finds that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, and other recent federal policy changes require the State to modify its information systems to comply with federal program changes. It is important that these program and system changes are made to ensure eligible residents can maintain access to public assistance and services and that the state complies with the new requirements to maximize access to federal funds.

The legislature further finds that that a Hawaii benefits hub should be developed to serve as a centralized, digital application system that enables residents to apply for state-managed public assistance programs through a single, unified platform. The single unified platform will benefit the public by giving residents one, simple, secure portal to apply for multiple services at once, making it easier and faster to access and maintain the services that they need. The Hawaii benefits hub may also reduce administrative burdens for agencies managing public assistance programs by being a central repository for eligibility data, which may reduce costs and ensure the consistency of data provided to all participating agencies.

The legislature further finds that the creation of a benefits hub is also an opportunity to shift away from a static government database to a dynamic referral network of community-based organizations, education opportunities, and employers. Additionally, the benefits hub could eliminate manual reporting of work and volunteer hours from applicants, employers, and nonprofit organizations and, instead, automate compliance. Beyond that, it could use technology to make referrals within the network, track outcomes and service gaps, and measure the actual return on investment of social services interventions.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a working group to discuss a centralized platform that meets the requirements and operations of public assistance programs and develop a plan for the governance and implementation of the Hawaii benefits hub and related referral, tracking, compliance, and coordination services.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a Hawaii benefits hub working group to develop a plan for the governance and implementation of the Hawaii benefits hub and related referral, tracking, compliance, and coordination systems. The plan shall include recommendations for:

(1) A governance structure for implementation and management of the Hawaii benefits hub;

(2) The necessary funding and timeline for integrating key social assistance online services; and

(3) The necessary funding and timeline for implementing the Hawaii benefits hub and related referral, tracking, compliance, and coordination services.

(b) The working group shall consist of the following members:

(1) One member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chair of the working group;

(2) One member of the senate, to be appointed by the senate president, who shall serve as co-chair of the working group;

(3) The director of human services or the director's designee;

(4) The director of health or the director's designee;

(5) The director of labor and industrial relations or the director's designee;

(6) The chief information officer or the chief information officer's designee; and

(7) Any other person that the co-chairs wish to invite to serve on the working group.

(c) The working group shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027, and a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.

(d) The working group shall dissolve on June 30, 2028.

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 2026-2027 for procuring a consultant to coordinate the Hawaii benefits hub working group, hiring full-time equivalent ( FTE) permanent project manager, and any necessary administrative expenses.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of enterprise technology services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2114
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1