STAND. COM. REP. 2737
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: S.B. No. 2226
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2226 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESS SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a dedicated funding source for homeless assistance.
Specifically, the bill requires that up to $1,000,000 in unencumbered and unexpended moneys remaining on balance in the unclaimed property trust fund be transferred annually to the department of human services to be expended for homeless services.
Your Committee finds that services to homeless individuals and families, specifically outreach and case management, have not been funded in a consistent manner over the years due to budget constraints. The homeless need to be connected to services to deal with the underlying causes of homelessness including poverty, mental illness, drug addiction, and other problems. This measure will provide a dedicated source of funding that will assist these vulnerable citizens.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to:
(1) Clarify further that excess moneys in the unclaimed property trust fund may be used for homeless services by amending section 523A-23.5(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Remedy an erroneous section numbering problem in the bill by renumbering the sections correctly; and
(3) Change the $1,000,000 amount for homeless services to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2226, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
||