STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3697

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2281

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2281, H.D. 1, 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 address homelessness in the State.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes within the Department of Human Services an Ohana Zones Program to provide housing to homeless individuals and families based on principles similar to those used in "housing first" programs and appropriates moneys for the program;

(2) Appropriates moneys to:

(A) The Hawaii Public Housing Authority, for public housing improvements and to administer a Housing Homeless Children Pilot Program;

(B) The Department of Human Services, for the continuation of the Housing First, Rapid Rehousing, and Outreach Services programs, including funding for civil legal services, and for the Family Assessment Center; and

(C) The Department of Health, for the continuation of outreach, counseling, and diversion programs, including funding for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Pilot Program; and

(3) Establishes within the Department of Health an Emergency Department Homelessness Assessment Pilot Program and a Medical Respite Pilot Program, requires the Department of Health to report to the 2019 Legislature on the pilot programs, and appropriates moneys for the pilot programs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; County of Hawaii, Mayor's Office; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; The Queen's Health Systems; American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii; Foo W. Lim & Sons, Inc.; PHOCUSED; Community Alliance on Prisons; IMUAlliance; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i; Hawai`i Justice Coalition; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hawaii Advocates for Consumer Rights; The Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Ohana Ho`opakele; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Legal Aid Society of Hawaii; Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force; Pele Lani Farm LLC; and five individuals.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and Mayor's Office of Housing submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that this measure's multi-faceted approach to providing housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness is necessary to more effectively address one of the most challenging issues in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that references the establishment of the Ohana Zones Program within the Department of Human Services and specifying that the Governor shall designate an executive branch agency with expertise in construction and housing development to develop and implement the program, and making conforming amendments to the related appropriation section; and

(2) Specifying that the designated agency that develops and implements the Ohana Zones Program shall work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources on certain specified issues if any Department of Land and Natural Resources lands are determined to be suitable for program use.

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 H.B. No. 2281, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2281, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair