STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1519

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 83

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 83, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, in conjunction with and advisement of the Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources, to establish a working group to examine and develop recommendations related to the establishment of safe zones for persons experiencing homelessness;

     (2)  Require the working group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

     (3)  Appropriate an unspecified amount to the Department of Human Services to support the activities of the working group.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

     Your Committees find that due to economic constraints, the supply of subsidized housing is, and will continue to be, woefully insufficient for the foreseeable future.  Consequently, illegal homeless camps, which are a public health menace, are ubiquitous.  The State must therefore explore the establishment of alternative housing options that will ensure that homeless individuals are housed and receive much needed support services.  This measure will assist in exploring the feasibility of establishing safe zones for person experiencing homelessness.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language that requires the working group to consider the potential scope of liability of the State and its employees and agents with regard to the establishment of safe zones; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 83, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 83, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair