Title 20, Social Services

[§346-303] Rules. The department of human services shall maintain rules describing eligibility criteria for adoption assistance and describing the types, duration, and amounts of adoption assistance benefits that may be received. [L 1992, c 190, pt of §1]

[§346-304] Eligibility. Eligibility for adoption assistance shall not depend upon the amount of income or property of the adoptive family. [L 1992, c 190, pt of §1]

[§346-305] Effect on prior adoption assistance agreements. Nothing in this part shall invalidate any adoption assistance agreement already entered into or benefits previously provided by the department of human services nor shall require a reduction of benefits already being prov…

§346-31 Assignment of persons in need of public assistance to work on public projects. The department of human services as far as permissible under the then existing federal laws, may assign persons in need of public assistance to work on state, county, or other public projects w…

§346-32 Application of chapter 386 to persons in need of public assistance assigned to work projects. Chapter 386 shall apply to recipients of public assistance assigned to work on public projects pursuant to section 346-31, who shall be deemed employees for the purposes of chapt…

§346-33 Assistance payments inalienable. Assistance payments and compensation paid by the department of human services to blind persons and other persons for work performed in their homes or in workshops shall be inalienable by any assignment, sale, attachment, garnishment, execu…

§346-34 Frauds, penalties. (a) Any recipient who buys or disposes of real property or any person who knowingly aids or abets a recipient in the purchase or sale of real property without the consent of the department of human services shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. (b) If…

§346-35 Cancellation or revision. If, at any time during the currency or continuance of public assistance, the recipient, or any person legally liable for the support of the recipient becomes possessed of any property or income in addition to that available at the time the grant …

[Part XVI.] MEDICAID PREAUTHORIZATION EXEMPTION [§346-351] Findings. The legislature finds that: (1) Patients who are medicaid recipients and who suffer from the human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, or who are in need of immunosuppressiv…

§346-352 Preauthorization exemption for certain physicians and physician assistants. Any physician or physician assistant licensed in this State who treats a medicaid recipient patient suffering from the human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or hepati…

§346-36 Assistance payments, subject to change or repeal. All public assistance granted under this chapter shall be deemed to be granted and held subject to any amending or repealing act that may be passed and no recipient under this chapter shall have any claim for compensation …

PART XVII. HOMELESS PROGRAMS §346-361 Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: "Donor" means any individual, partnership, corporation, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization, foundation, estate, trust, or any other person or firm that do…

[§346-362] Duties. (a) The department of human services shall administer and operate homeless facilities and any other program for the homeless authorized by this part; establish programs for the homeless; and take any other actions necessary to effectuate the purposes of this pa…

[§346-363] Exception to liability for donors. (a) Any donor who gives money to a provider agency, to a homeless facility to or through the department, or for any other program for the homeless authorized by this part shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from the do…

[§346-364] Contract or conveyance to the department. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the board of land and natural resources or other state agency holding lands and improvements may contract or otherwise convey at a nominal consideration, by direct negotiation and …

[§346-365] Program administration. To the extent that appropriations are made available, the department may contract with a provider agency to administer homeless facilities or any other program for the homeless created by this part. The selection of provider agencies to administ…

[§346-366] Time limits. To the extent that appropriations are made available, a provider agency shall provide shelter or any other program assistance authorized by this part to eligible homeless families and homeless individuals not later than three days after a vacancy occurs, o…

[§346-367] Determination of eligibility and need. (a) The provider agency operating and managing a homeless facility or any other program for the homeless authorized by this part, or the department operating and managing its own homeless facility, shall be responsible for determi…

[§346-368] Abuse of assistance. (a) The provider agency operating and managing a homeless facility or any other program for the homeless authorized by this part, or the department operating and managing its own homeless facility, shall be responsible for determining whether a par…

[§346-369] Exemptions. (a) Any compensation received by a provider agency for services rendered to homeless families or individuals, or in operating or managing a homeless facility authorized by this part, is exempt from taxation under chapter 237. (b) Any county mayor may exempt…

§346-37 Recovery of payments and costs of medical assistance. (a) If a recipient under this chapter dies leaving an estate and does not have a surviving spouse, child, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, grandchild, stepfather, stepmother, or any designated heir, the depart…

§346-37.1 Payment of public assistance for child requires payment of child support to department by natural or adoptive parents. (a) Any payment of public assistance money made to or for the benefit of any dependent child or children creates a debt due and owing to the department…

§346-37.2 Department subrogated to rights. The department shall be subrogated to the right of such child or children or person having the care, custody, and control of such child or children to the debt created under section 346-37.1. Any judicial or administrative action to coll…

§346-37.3 Notice of child support debt. The department shall notify the child support enforcement agency of the amount of, and the periods during which, public assistance was provided to or for the benefit of any dependent child or children. [L 1975, c 137, pt of §1; am L 1986, c…

[§346-370] Emergency or transitional shelter volunteers. (a) For the purposes of this section, "emergency or transitional shelter volunteer" means an individual who: (b) Provider agencies may accept labor and services from emergency or transitional shelter volunteers. (c) In addi…

§346-371 Annual financial audit. (a) The department shall require any provider agency that dispensed shelter or assistance for any homeless facility or any other program for the homeless authorized by this part to submit to the department a financial audit when requested, but at …

[§346-372] Provider agency and donor cooperation are not in restraint of trade. No provider agency or any other agency, or donor or donors, or method or act thereof that complies with this part shall be deemed a conspiracy or combination in restraint of trade or an illegal monopo…

[§346-373] Construction of part. If there is any conflict between this part and any other law, this part shall control. [L 2010, c 89, pt of §2]

§346-374 Homeless shelter stipends. (a) The department may make or may contract to make homeless shelter stipend payments to a provider agency operating or managing an emergency or transitional shelter. Under each contract, the department shall pay homeless shelter stipends only …

[§346-374.5] Emergency shelter; minimum requirements. (a) This section shall apply to every emergency shelter operated by a provider agency that is under contract with the department to receive homeless shelter stipends for providing shelter and services to homeless families or i…

[§346-375] Temporary emergency shelter. (a) In addition to any other duties prescribed by law, the department shall develop, in consultation with the four counties, a procedure for identifying locations that shall be used for temporary emergency shelters for homeless individuals …

[§346-376] Additional powers. The powers conferred upon the department by this part shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, and nothing in this part shall be construed as limiting any powers, rights, privileges, or immunities conferred. [L …

§346-378 Housing first programs. (a) The department of human services, in consultation with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as necessary, shall implement housing first programs and services, as the department deems appropriate for clientele who woul…

§346-38 Incompetency of recipient. If the recipient is found incapable of taking care of the recipient's money or oneself, the department of human services may direct its assistance to be paid to a legal guardian or any other reputable person for the recipient's benefit or may su…

PART XVIII. STATEWIDE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS A. Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness [§346-381] Hawaii interagency council on homelessness; establishment. (a) There is established the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness, which shall be an advisory body ex…

§346-381.5 Coordinator on homelessness. The governor shall appoint the coordinator on homelessness for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter without regard to chapter 76. [L 2019, c 81, §2; am L 2025, c 309, §9]

§346-382 Membership. (a) The Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall be composed of the following members or the member's designee: (b) The nongovernmental members of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed …

[§346-383] Meetings; quorum. (a) The Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall meet quarterly, or more frequently as it deems necessary. (b) A majority of the members of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall constitute a quorum to do business and to validate…

[B.] Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions §346-385 Definitions. As used in this subpart, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Coordinator" means the coordinator on homelessness as provided in section 346-381.5. "Director" means the director of human …

[§346-386] Statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions; establishment. There is established within the department of human services, for administrative purposes only, the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions that shall:

§346-387 Administration. (a) The office shall be headed by the coordinator on homelessness, appointed pursuant to section 346-381.5, for the proper administration and enforcement of this subpart. (b) The coordinator shall report directly to the director and appoint staff as may b…

[§346-388] Duties and responsibilities. The office shall:

[§346-388.1] Kauhale projects; requirements. (a) Any kauhale projects constructed or developed using state funds shall be connected to public utilities, including water, sewer, and electricity. (b) The monthly rent charged to any resident of a kauhale shall not exceed thirty per …

[§346-388.2] Kauhale; reports. (a) The office shall establish the following: (b) The coordinator shall compile and consolidate information from the office and submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, which shall …

[§346-388.3] Ohana zones program; establishment; reports. (a) There is established within the office the ohana zones program to provide temporary housing and services to homeless individuals and families based on principles similar to the housing first program. (b) The office sha…

[§346-389] Annual report. The coordinator shall submit an annual progress report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The report shall include: