STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2897

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3169

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3169, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to continue certain low-income tiny home projects.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Exempts from certain statutory provisions low-income rentals, tiny home villages, or kauhale, developed on state land pursuant to certain emergency proclamations;

(2) Establishes within the Department of Human Services the low-income tiny home village pilot program to provide long-term housing and services to individuals experiencing homelessness or whose income is at or below a certain threshold;

(3) Establishes requirements for, and the duties of, the Department of Human Services in relation to the pilot program; and

(4) Requires the Department of Human Services to submit a report to the Legislature on the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Partners In Care and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, and Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that the cost of housing in the State is continuing to rise. Your Committee also finds that many residents of the State are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Your Committee believes that this measure will help to house many of these residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Human Services to identify, and either provide or contract for the provision of, any services that may be required to effectuate the purpose of the low-income tiny home village pilot project; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3169, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3169, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair