STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1018

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 212

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 212, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states;

(2) Require the Office to submit annual reports to the Legislature regarding the Return-to-Home Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Public Defender; The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Waikīkī Neighborhood Board; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Council on Mental Health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the number of positions to assist and supervise the Return-to-Home Program to an unspecified number.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 212, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 212, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair