Rep. Mahina Poepoe

Establishes an additional minimum supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefit of $250 per month per person for SNAP-eligible households whose income is below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, as established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Requires that SNAP-eligible households whose monthly income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level receive a graduated decline of additional SNAP benefits. Requires state general funds to be used to supplement the cost of the additional benefits. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires the department of human services to adopt rules, contingent on the approval of the Hawaiʻi state plan amendment by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to remove the $2,000-per-individual asset limit for eligibility for assistance under the med-QUEST program. Requires a report to legislature. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires that a written disclaimer be provided by sellers or providers of emotional support animals or certificates or identification tags for emotional support animals that the animal is not a service animal or the item does not qualify as an item for a service animal. Establishes penalties. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the housing assistance program, to be carried out by the housing assistance program coordinator, within the department of human services to provide state grants and rental subsidies to private property owners who set aside, construct, or improve accessory dwelling units on their properties and rent the units to families or individuals who are homeless. Establishes the temporary housing assistance program commission and positions to support the housing assistance program. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2029.

Reduces, then later exempts, the tax collected on the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser. Reduces, then later exempts, the tax collected for the sale of nonprescription drugs.

Clarifies that in calculating whether a product labeled "Made in Hawaiʻi" has met the requirement that at least fifty-one per cent of the wholesale value of the product is added by manufacture, processing, or production within the State, operating and overhead expenses incurred and spent within the State shall be included. Appropriates funds to promote and develop the "Made in Hawaiʻi" brand.

Establishes the Hookaulike: A Criminal Legal System Institute for Restoration and Healing, at the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson school of law. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Hawaiʻi Environmental Protection Agency. Transfers jurisdiction of certain functions and employees of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health to the Hawaiʻi Environmental Protection Agency.

Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with a crime is entitled to unconditional release. Requires the court to consider conditioning pre-trial release on nonfinancial conditions before ordering bail if unconditional release is inappropriate.

Establishes an income tax credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a director of health-approved wastewater system or connecting to a sewerage system. Requires certain information regarding cesspools on real property to be included in seller mandatory disclosures on real property transactions. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)