STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2482

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2906

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor, Human Services, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2906 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to statutorily establish and fund the position of the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to report directly to the Governor.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, City and County of Honolulu Mayor's Office of Housing, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, Institute for Human Services, Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Parents And Children Together, and Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that homelessness in Hawaii has reached epidemic proportions, impacting residents and visitors alike. Your Committees further find that although the Governor has appointed a coordinator on homelessness to coordinate homelessness efforts statewide since 2011, and Act 105, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, established the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness with the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to serve as chair, the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness position has not been statutorily established. This measure codifies the position within the Department of Human Services to better ensure accountability and coordination between the various departments and agencies tasked with reducing homelessness and eliminating barriers to housing through increased communication and the development of strategic plans and benchmarks. This measure also appropriates monies for the position and other expenses for fiscal year 2018-2019.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor, Human Services, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2906 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor, Human Services, and Government Operations,

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair	________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair
	________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair