STAND. COM. REP. NO. 759

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Office of the Auditor to conduct a study to assess the impact of using Medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment of homelessness.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from The Queen's Health Systems, the Institute for Human Services, Hawaii Association for Behavioral Analysis, and three individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

     Your Committee finds that there is an integral link between health and housing, especially for individuals who are chronically homeless.  Individuals without housing often struggle to address their health needs, while those who are unable to address their health needs often struggle to obtain and retain housing.  Your Committee further finds that the cost of caring for and treating the State's homeless population, including spending on hospitals, long-term care facilities, and  home-based services, continues to rise.  Your Committee recognizes that ensuring the availability of quality health care and preventative services can successfully mitigate increased future demand for high-cost medical services.  Your Committee finds that a study by the Auditor is a necessary next step in a potentially transformative approach for treating the homeless population in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Appropriating an unspecified sum of general funds for fiscal year 2017-2018, that is to be matched with federal funds, to cover the costs of the study; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair