official plans for associative array support in bash?

[snowcrash+bugbash]

hello,

@ http://tiswww.tis.case.edu/~chet/bash/FAQ there are comments ACKing
ksh's support for "associative arrays" -- and BASH's current lack of
it -- but no announcement of plans/predictions/promises for BASH
support.

lot's of sites proclaim that there  "will be" future support ... but
folks @ #bash said B$, and to check _here_ for an "official" reply.

so, QUESTION:

is BASH support of "associative arrays" planned?

if so, is it on a roadmap / release target? and, when?

thanks!