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HB2116
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2116
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to grants
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that the federal
requirements for eligibility to receive assistance from programs such as
medicaid, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and
federally funded public housing have changed pursuant to Public Law No.
119-21.
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For individuals who are between
the ages of eighteen and fifty-four, able to work, and do not have any
dependents, also known as able-bodied adults without dependents, there are now additional
requirements for certain federal programs.
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Able-bodied adult without dependents must now document
community engagement to qualify for certain federal programs, which can consist
of a combination of work, training, school, or volunteer efforts for a certain
minimum number of hours per month.
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These
eligibility requirements have expanded to new populations of SNAP beneficiaries
and are required for the first time for other programs.
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The legislature believes that it is imperative
to support nonprofit organizations in providing expanded or new opportunities
for volunteer and training hours so that residents may more easily meet federal
program eligibility requirements, contribute to the local community through
volunteer work, and gain new employment skills through training.
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The
purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the office of community services
of the department of labor and industrial relations to award grants, pursuant
to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and other qualifications, for fiscal
year 2026-2027 to nonprofit organizations that expand or create new
opportunities for residents needing to meet community engagement requirements
to qualify for federal programs.
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SECTION 2.
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The legislature finds and declares that
the grants made pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, under this
Act are in the public interest and for the public health, safety, and general
welfare.
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the office of
community services of the department of labor and industrial relations for the
awarding of grants made pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for
the benefit of nonprofit organizations in the State of Hawaii.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the office of community services for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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(a)
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Provided
that of the general fund appropriation for the office of community services of
the department of labor and industrial relations (program ID LBR903) authorized
under section 3, the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2026-2027 shall be expended on grants issued in accordance with
chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, except where inapplicable pursuant to subsection
(b), and subsection (b).
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(b)
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In selecting recipients and awarding and
administering grants funded by the appropriation contained in section 3 of this
Act, there is established an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the
evaluation and selection of, and determine grant award amounts to, nonprofit
applicants; provided that the requirement to submit grant requests to the
appropriate standing committees of the legislature pursuant to section 42F-102,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not apply to grants applied for pursuant to this
Act.
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The evaluation and selection
committee shall be composed of the following members:
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(1)
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Two senators appointed by the president of the
senate; and
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(2)
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Two representatives appointed by the speaker
of the house of representatives.
The meetings of the evaluation and selection
committee shall not be subject to part I of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised
Statutes.
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To be
eligible for a grant funded by the appropriation contained in section 3,
applicants shall provide documentation of the nature of planned volunteer
activities or training activities that qualify for community engagement hours
and how those activities will benefit the State or the participants, how
participants in need of documented community service hours to verify
eligibility for federally funded programs will be recruited to those programs,
and how the funds will be used to expand existing programs or establish new
programs.
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The grants funded by the
appropriation contained in section 3 shall not be used to replace current
funding of existing programs.
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In
evaluating, selecting, awarding, and administering grants funded by the
appropriation contained in section 3, the evaluation and selection committee
shall apply all qualifying standards, conditions, and other applicable
requirements under chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the grant
recipients and their respective contracts; provided that the grant application
submission deadline contained in section 42F-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
shall not apply to grants applied for and funded pursuant to this Act.
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SECTION
5.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $65,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for one full-time equivalent (1.0
FTE) temporary program specialist position to assist the office of community
services in awarding the grants as required by this Act.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the office of community services for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
6.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of the
attorney general to assist the office of community services review contracts
and monitor costs associated with the awarding of grants as required by this
Act.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for
the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 7.
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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.
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SECTION 8.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Office of
Community Services; Chapter 42F, Grants; Community Engagement; Attorney
General; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates
funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) of the Department of Labor and
Industrial Relations to award grants for fiscal year 2026-2027
to
nonprofit organizations that expand or create new opportunities for residents
needing to meet new community engagement requirements to qualify for federal
programs
.
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Establishes an evaluation and selection
committee to oversee the awarding of grants.
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Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on
activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the
grant.
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Appropriates funds for positions
in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General
to assist OCS in
reviewing contracts and monitoring costs.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.