STAND. COM. REP. NO.  300-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1841

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Housing and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1841 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide additional housing opportunities for homeless families and individuals by establishing the Hale Kokua Program within the Department of Human Services and appropriating funds for the Program.

The Community Alliance for Mental Health and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Human Services opposed this bill.  A concerned individual commented on this bill.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1)  Establishing the Hale Kokua Program as a housing option under the Housing First Program instead of as a stand-alone project;

(2)  Eliminating property tax waivers or reductions as potential incentives to homeowners;

(3)  Requiring the Department to create a registry of property owners who are willing to participate in the Program; and

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

     Your Committees respectfully request that should the Committee on Finance choose to hear this measure, the Committee on Finance determine whether this project is feasible.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1841, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1841, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Human Services,

____________________________ MELE CARROLL, Chair

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair