STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2992

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2207

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2207, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness to include a representative of a LGBTQ+ focused organization as one of its members.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Health, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, North Shore Ko‘olau Diversity Collective, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, AF3IRM Hawai‘i, and nine individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness is an advisory council chaired by the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness that serves as the statewide homelessness planning and policy development entity with broad representation from state and county government and the community. Your Committees find that multiple national and Hawaii-specific studies show that LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately affected by homelessness compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. Your Committees find however, that the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, currently consisting of twenty-seven members, does not include a member that specifically represents the interests of the LGBTQ+ community in Hawaii. This measure will allow the voice of the Hawaii's LGBTQ+ community to be reflected in Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness' policies and programs to better address the unique needs of sexual and gender minorities in Hawaii who are experiencing homelessness.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2207, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair