Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1235 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

Mental Health Kokua, Homeless Solutions, and the Health Care for the Homeless Project submitted testimony in support of this measure. IHS submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

The Office of the Governor, Rental Housing Trust Fund Advisory Commission, and the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) submitted testimony in opposition of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the women and families shelter has been operating on funding from a portion of the conveyance tax appropriated to the Rental Housing Trust Fund, shared with HCDCH's homeless assistance programs. However, a sunset clause effected at the end of this fiscal year will discontinue the funding, and the shelter will not be able to operate.

In recent years, funds for homeless programs have been cut despite a growing homeless population. Redistributing funds from the conveyance tax will allow the women and families shelter to continue operating.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1235, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1235, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.