STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2806

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2570

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2570, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RAPID RE-HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for a rapid re-housing assistance program to move homeless families and individuals into permanent housing as quickly as possible and achieve stability in that housing.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

 

     Your Committee finds that homelessness is a major issue in the State and that rapid re-housing is an evidence-based best practice to end homelessness.  Providing housing relocation and stabilization services, and short- and medium-term rental housing assistance, will help housed families and individuals who are at risk of homelessness keep their housing and will help those who are homeless transition into housing that is acceptable and safe.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services is presently operating a rapid re-housing program utilizing mainly federal funds.  There is no enabling statutory language, however, on the program.  Your Committee intends that this measure statutorily establish the program with provisions supported by the Legislature.  Your Committee also notes that the Governor has included a $2,000,000 general fund appropriation in the proposed supplemental budget.  Your Committee intends to further consider whether the appropriation should be included in this measure or the supplemental budget bill.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation from $1,000,000 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity.

    

     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. 2570, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2570, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair