Legislation Detail
SB 164 UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME & PREGNANCY
Actions: [2] SCC/SHPAC/SFC-SCC
Scheduled: Not Scheduled
Senate Bill 164 (SB 164) – This legislative act is related to Human Services; requiring the Department of Health to evaluate the "Impacts of Universal Basic Income on Pregnant People". This legislation also reflects an experimental approach to understand the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a universal basic income specifically for pregnant individuals, with a focus on health and financial outcomes.Legislation Overview:
Senate Bill 164 (SB 164) Section 1: Universal Basic Income Pilot Program • Definition (A): Defines "program" as the Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot program. • Creation (B): Establishes the UBI pilot program as a two-year initiative administered by the Department of Health to assess the financial impact of providing universal basic income to pregnant individuals from pregnancy through the first year of an infant's life. • Application Process (C): Outlines an application process for participants to voluntarily enroll in the program, with eligibility criteria based on pregnancy and income level. • Duration and Limitations (D): Specifies the program's start and end dates, and outlines limitations, including the distribution of $1,500 per month, home visitations, surveys, research forms, and mandatory prenatal care appointments. Non-compliance results in a participant being placed in the control group. • Reporting (E): Requires the Department of Health to report program findings to the legislative education study committee by December 1, 2026. Section 2: Appropriation – • The program involves a two-year pilot with specific conditions and requirements for participants, including financial support, healthcare, surveys, and home visitations. • Evaluation: The Department of Health is tasked with evaluating and reporting the findings of the program to the legislative education study committee. • Allocates eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) from the general fund to the Department of Health for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to conduct the UBI pilot program. • The legislation specifies that any unexpended or unencumbered balance at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the general fund.