STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1407-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2501

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health & Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish safe zones for homeless persons. Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Human Services to establish safe zones where homeless persons may reside in the State;

(2) Establishes requirements for, and permissible behavior at, safe zones;

(3) Requires that safe zones operate until the Legislature determines that homelessness is no longer a crisis in the State; and

(4) Appropriates funds for safe zones.

IMUAlliance, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and a few concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Association for Justice provided comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting new language that:

(1) Establishes an Ohana Zones Program within the Department of Human Services to, within two years, provide housing and supportive services according to housing first principles to individuals and families experiencing homelessness statewide and establishes program specifications including:

(A) Zone and dwelling unit size, required services, required facilities, and cost limits;

(B) Charges for residency and service provision, based on the income of residents;

(C) Rules, policies, and procedures to be adopted by the Department for program applications, eligibility, resident self-governance, and collaboration with law enforcement;

(D) Waiver of state and county permitting and construction fees; and

(E) Criteria and timetables for provision of 8,000 dwelling units within two years and standards for program evaluation and monitoring;

(2) Establishes a permanent Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness position within the Department of Human Services;

(3) Limits liability for government agencies, organizations, and volunteers that provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness;

(4) Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for:

(A) Establishment and operation of Ohana Zones; and

(B) Continued administration of housing first programs for chronically homeless individuals; the rapid rehousing program to assist homeless families and individuals obtain, maintain, and stabilize housing; the outreach services program to homeless persons, including for civil legal services; and the Family Assessment Center for homeless families;

(5) Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to provide public housing improvements and renovations statewide and to administer a state rent supplement pilot program to assist 100 families with children who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness because of domestic violence statewide;

(6) Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for outreach, counseling, and diversion services for unsheltered homeless individuals experiencing substance abuse, including for continued administration of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Pilot Program; and

(7) Changes the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committees note that there is support for incorporating current, existing Puuhonua homeless villages and other encampments across the counties of Hawaii into the development of the ohana zones program established by this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health & Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health & Human Services and Housing,

____________________________ TOM BROWER, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair