STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2504

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2887

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2887 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the operating budget of the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2022-2023; and

(2) Require the Department of Human Services to make any and all efforts available each year to fully fund all programs relating to homelessness.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from County of Hawai‘i Office of Housing and Community Development; St. Michael the Archangel Church; Hope Services Hawaii, Inc.; and Community Alliance Partners. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that there is a need to sustain homeless programs and services with predictable and stable funding. Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a steady decrease in homelessness resulting in part from the implementation of a broad and diverse array of homeless programs and services. However, the demand for homeless services significantly increased and required changes due to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. This measure will fund and preserve existing homeless services which were proven to be successful.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting blank appropriation amounts.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2887, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2887, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair