STAND. COM. REP. NO. 24

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 268

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 268 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to study the impact and feasibility of creating an integrated database of certain information related to homeless individuals for providers of homeless services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that homelessness is a complex issue that requires continuous resources and coordinated efforts at all levels, including improving access to information of homeless individuals who are served by service providers.  Oftentimes, critical services are delayed for homeless individuals because of the difficulties in accessing pertinent records and information.

     Your Committee notes that consideration for confidentiality of health records is critical with the implementation of an integrated database containing information about homeless individuals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adjusting the appropriation amount from $250,000 to $1,500,000; and

     (2)  Specifying that the appropriation shall also be used to construct an integrated database for providers of homeless services.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 268, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 268, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair