STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1750

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    H.B. No. 212

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 212, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require, and appropriate moneys for, the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to help homeless persons in Hawaii return to families and relatives in the persons' home states.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development, Waikiki Neighborhood Board, Institute for Human Services, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the State Council on Mental Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Return-to-Home Pilot Program that was established in 2023 has successfully reunited more than one hundred homeless individuals with their families.  Your Committee believes that establishing the program as a permanent statewide initiative will ensure that more homeless individuals who wish to return to their home state are given the support and resources to do so.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     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 H.B. No. 212, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 212, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair