STAND. COM. REP. NO.  256

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 898

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 898 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING POLICY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to extend to December 31, 2011, the lapse date of funds appropriated from the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for the Housing First Pilot Program.

     Your Committee finds that Section 14 of Act 191, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2010, appropriates moneys from the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund to fund the development and implementation of a Housing First Pilot Program for chronically homeless individuals.  The appropriation of these funds under Act 191, SLH 2010, lapses at the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which would curtail the Department of Human Services' and Hawaii Public Housing Authority's efforts to help chronically homeless individuals.

     The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and Hawaii Family Forum testified in support of this measure.  Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and Partners in Care testified in strong support of this measure, with suggested amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Extending for one year, to December 31, 2012, the lapse date of funds appropriated from the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for the Housing First Pilot Program; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 898, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 898, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair