STAND. COM. REP. NO. 13

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1014

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1014 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOUSELESS BILL OF RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to define specific rights granted to a person who is houseless, including equal access to housing, jobs, and shelters, equal treatment by government agencies, and access to life-sustaining activities and essential services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, IMUAlliance, Amnesty International Honolulu Chapter, and thirteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that no person's rights, privileges, or access to public services should be denied solely because a person is houseless, and a houseless individual should be granted the same rights as any other person.  Because houseless persons often experience discrimination based on their appearance or lack of permanent address, there is a need for protecting the basic human rights of the houseless.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1014 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair