SB2374

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the ohana zones pilot program enacted under Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, and Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, has thus far been effective at serving its intended purposes. A total of sixteen projects, including twenty different sites, are supported by ohana zones funding. As of September 30, 2021, the ohana zones program has served over five-thousand individuals statewide and placed more than one-thousand individuals into permanent housing. The program has preserved or added approximately eight-hundred beds and units in shelter and housing inventory. The program has also led to the development of innovative programs addressing homelessness, such as the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons (HONU) program.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Provide additional funding to the ohana zones program; and

(2) Extend the program's expiration to June 30, 2026.

SECTION 2. Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, section 4, as amended by Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, section 1, is amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. (a) Contracts entered into by the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program shall be exempt from the requirements of chapters 103D and 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(b) The agencies designated by the governor shall establish no later than December 31, 2018, the following:

(1) The criteria that the agencies will use to evaluate potential ohana zone locations;

(2) A monthly timetable of milestones that the agencies expect to meet in establishing one or more ohana zones over the course of the three-year pilot program;

(3) The specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-based performance measures that the agencies expect to meet at the end of each fiscal year;

(4) The evaluation criteria and process that the agencies intend to use each year when reviewing the success and sustainability of the ohana zones; and

(5) The monitoring and oversight controls that the agencies will have over the ohana zones to identify, address, and prevent possible fraud, waste, and abuse and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

(c) The governor's coordinator on homelessness shall compile and consolidate information from the agencies designated by the governor to effectuate this part and submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of [~~2020, 2021, and 2022.~~] 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

[~~(d) The report submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020 shall include the following information:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~A summary and explanation of the process that the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program engaged in to identify possible ohana zone locations; and~~

~~(2)~~ ~~A summary of the information required under subsection (b).~~

~~(e)~~] (d) The reports submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of [~~2021 and 2022~~] 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 shall include the following information:

(1) The milestones established pursuant to subsection (b) that were met by the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program and ohana zones established during the fiscal year;

(2) An evaluation of the ohana zones to determine whether the objectives set have been met or exceeded;

(3) Any proposed changes that need to be made to the performance measures used to assess the achievement of program goals; and

(4) An assessment of the impact of the ohana zone model on the homelessness problem in Hawaii.

[~~(f)~~] (e) The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, [~~2023.~~] 2026."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $30,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the continuation of the ohana zones pilot program and expenses related to facility construction, renovation, and maintenance, provision of services, staffing, and administrative costs.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this Act; provided that the governor shall transfer the expenditure authority to designated executive branch departments or agencies within a reasonable time.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governor may transfer all or a portion of the appropriation in this section to the governor's designated executive branch agencies for expenditures incurred to implement the program.

The governor's designated executive branch agencies may expend any appropriation transferred pursuant to this section for the performance of its duties under the pilot program and may contract with any county or county agency in implementing the program.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2374
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII