STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1606-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2559

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2559, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address homelessness by increasing the availability of cost-effective emergency and transitional shelter space.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Provides that emergency shelters shall comply with certain minimum requirements that meet basic needs and preferences of homeless families and individuals;

     (2)  Requires homeless shelter stipend payments to be made based on performance measures that are actually achieved;

     (3)  Repeals the automatic annual adjustment of the homeless shelter stipend amount;

     (4)  Revises existing provisions on the establishment and collection of shelter and service payments by a provider agency from homeless families and individuals;

     (5)  Requires each provider agency to submit a financial audit to the Department of Human Services at least annually;

     (6)  Establishes and funds positions for the Department of Human Services to assist in the operation of the homeless program; and

     (7)  Appropriates funds for the establishment or improvement of homeless shelter space and expenditure on other non-recurring costs, subject to the availability of general funds for this purpose.

The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and a few individuals provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of Human Services and Hawaii Youth Services Network provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 2559, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair