STAND. COM. REP. NO. 495

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 589

       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 Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 589 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 League of Women Voters of Hawaii, IMUAlliance, The CHOW Project, and eight individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, and Department of the Attorney General.

     Your Committee finds that the population of houseless persons in Hawaii rose by twenty-five percent between 2009 and 2016 and that houseless persons frequently experience significant hardship due to a lack of services and access to shelter.  Your Committee additionally finds that this measure will establish specific rights for houseless persons to ensure equal treatment by government agencies and access to life-sustaining activities and essential services.  Your Committee also finds that significant concerns have been raised in testimony on this measure regarding compatibility with existing law and with essential functions of the State.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing language providing the right to sleep in legally parked automobiles;

     (2)  Removing language providing that access to public hygiene facilities and accommodations must be on a twenty-four hour basis, or anywhere within the State;

     (3)  Adding language clarifying that the right of access to services essential to survival does not limit law enforcement activities and efforts to promote health, safety, and welfare; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 589, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 589, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor.

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

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair