STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2587

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2587 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GROUP HOMES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish a voluntary registry for clean and sober homes within the Department of Health by July 1, 2015;

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish the registry;

     (3)  Amend county zoning statutes to comply with the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act;

     (4)  Repeal definitions for terms that are defined elsewhere in the Hawaii Revised Statutes, are not used, or will be codified elsewhere in the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (5)  Exclude clean and sober homes from the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Department of Health; Planning Department, County of Hawaii; City Department of Planning and Permitting, City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Institute for Human Services; Life of the Land; and four individuals.

     Your Committees find that clean and sober homes and halfway houses provide housing for individuals who struggle with substance abuse, including those who may have mental health issues, as they transition from treatment programs into the community.  This measure promotes access to an alcohol- and drug-free home environment in residences that are in compliance with county, state, and federal requirements and quality standards.

     Your Committees note that the estimated cost to establish the registry for clean and sober homes is $435,000.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2587 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair