STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1466

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 257

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 257, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the use of private lands for the Ohana Zones pilot program;

(2) Extend the ohana zones pilot program to June 30, 2022; and

(3) Extend the emergency department homelessness assessment pilot program and the medical respite pilot program to June 30, 2020.

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, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, The Queen's Health Systems, HOPE Services Hawai‘i, Kona Alano Club, and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from eight individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committees find that safe zones provide a housing alternative for homeless individuals and families. Your Committees further find that Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 209), established an ohana zones pilot program to provide safe zones for the homeless population in the State. Ohana zones are designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness find and transition into permanent housing and provide them with necessary services. This measure broadens the scope of the ohana zones pilot program by allowing for public-private partnerships on private land, thereby expediting the construction of appropriate housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring a written agreement between a state or county agency and private land owner rather than requiring a memorandum of understanding between a private land owner and a state or county agency to use private land as an ohana zone, and specifying the requirements of the written agreement;

(2) Requiring that private lands have basic existing infrastructure prior to being used as an ohana zone;

(3) Specifying that if the private land ceases to be used for an ohana zone or low-income housing before the end of the time specified in the written agreement, the state agency may move the structure off the private land to another location of its choosing;

(4) Requiring the ohana zone pilot program to allow for off-the-grid infrastructure technologies that can provide drinking water, electricity, and process sewage without existing infrastructure;

(5) Extending the deadline for the Department of Human Services to implement the ohana zones pilot project, including extending the sunset date of the project; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 257, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 257, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair