STAND. COM. REP. NO.  594

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 519

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 519 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide housing and support services for chronically homeless individuals.

     More specifically, this measure appropriates $1,000,000 out of the general fund to the housing first special fund, to be expended by the Department of Human Services to continue Housing First programs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Catholic Charities of Hawaii, and Partners In Care.

     Written comments were submitted by the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee notes that Housing First programs provide housing and critical support services to the chronically homeless, one of the State's most vulnerable populations.  Your Committee finds that continued support of these programs is in the public interest.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding an appropriation of unspecified amounts from the housing first special fund, to clarify the Department of Human Services' authority to expend general fund moneys being deposited in the housing first special fund;

     (2)  Changing the general fund appropriation to unspecified sums;

     (3)  Amending the effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate continuing discussion on the measure; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 519, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 519, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair