STAND. COM. REP. NO. 531

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 900

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 900, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness and to make an appropriation of an unspecified amount for its administrative expenses.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Myoung Oh, Government Affairs Director, Hawaii Association of REALTORS; Betty Lou Larson, Legislative Liaison, Catholic Charities Hawaii; and Max Gray, Partners In Care.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Patricia McManaman, Interim Director, Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that, although great strides have been made in addressing the issue, homelessness remains a complex problem in the State and the nation, requiring coordination, planning, implementation, and funding among state and county agencies, private entities, and the federal government.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

     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. 900, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 900, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair