STAND. COM. REP. NO.  788

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 70

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 70, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOMELESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a return-to-home program within the Department of Human Services (DHS), to provide eligible homeless individuals with assistance in being reunited with family and relatives in the individual's home state.

     The Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  DHS, Help the Hawaii Homeless, and Windward Northshore Homeless Coalition provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 70, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 70, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair