HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

874

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to housing.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that persons with severe persistent mental illness often require specialized residential services.  However, the high cost of housing creates a shortage of available homes for these individuals, and the severely mentally ill often become homeless.  The legislature further finds that the development of project-based housing as a bridge to permanent housing is difficult to develop due to high costs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to authorize the use of the mental health and substance abuse special fund to provide housing for persons with a life-long serious mental illness.

     SECTION 2.  Section 334-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established a special fund to be known as the mental health and substance abuse special fund into which shall be deposited all revenues and other moneys collected from certification programs and treatment services rendered by the mental health and substance abuse programs operated by the State.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the department is authorized to establish separate accounts within the special fund for depositing moneys received from certification programs and from each mental health and substance abuse program.  Moneys deposited into the respective accounts of each program shall be used for the payment of the operating expenses of the respective program[.]; provided that     per cent of all pre-deposit moneys shall be used for housing for residents who qualify for social security disability benefits and are diagnosed with a life-long serious mental illness."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Housing; Mental Illness; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund

 

Description:

Requires an unspecified percentage of funds in the mental health and substance abuse special fund to be used to provide homes for persons who qualify for Social Security disability benefits and are diagnosed with a life-long serious mental illness.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.