STAND. COM. REP. NO. 339

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1085

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1085 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allocate funds from the transient accommodations tax revenues for homelessness services in tourism-impacted areas.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from IMUAlliance; Aqua-Aston Hospitality; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; Outrigger Enterprises Group; Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association; and three individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that the State has experienced a steady increase in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals and families in recent years.  Your Committees find that it is important to find innovative ways to fund homeless services, especially human services, health care, outreach, and rapid rehousing for the State's unsheltered and at-risk populations.  Your Committees further find that private entities have donated to help provide resources, but more funding is necessary to support services for unsheltered homeless individuals and families in Hawaii.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2018; and

(2)  Specifying that the funds allocated to provider agencies operating or managing a homeless facility or any other program for homeless individuals be distributed to the Department of Human Services.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1085, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1085, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Human Services,

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair