STAND. COM. REP. NO. 269

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1223

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1223 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Appropriate funds for establishing, staffing, and operating two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population;

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds for establishing three specialty shelters to temporarily house and serve homeless individuals;

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to study the impact and feasibility of creating an integrated database of certain information related to homeless individuals for providers of homeless services;

 

     (4)  Require the Governor to establish puuhonua safe zones where homeless persons may reside and appropriate funds for such purposes;

 

     (5)  Appropriate funds for homeless outreach services and storage of homeless people's property;

 

     (6)  Appropriate funds for outreach services to homeless persons with serious and persistent mental illness;

 

     (7)  Appropriate funds for services for homeless persons experiencing substance abuse; and

 

     (8)  Appropriate funds to assist the Department of Transportation with homelessness-related issues pertaining to security, health, and safety.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, IMUAlliance, Democratic Party of Hawaii, and three individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, and Honolulu Police Department.

 

     Your Committees find that homelessness continues to be one of the State's most significant and challenging social problems.  Homeless persons face a myriad of issues, including general health issues, mental illness, and substance abuse.  These issues affecting homeless persons also impact the general population through the costs of social and health care services.  Because homelessness is a complex issue, continuous resources and coordinated efforts at all levels are critical to ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals are receiving the support services they need.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the responsibilities for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of puuhonua safe zones are placed under the Department of Human Services instead of the Office of the Governor;

 

     (2)  Inserting language that waives the State's liability for any loss, damage, injury, or death in a puuhonua safe zone; and

 

     (3)  Specifying that the Department of Human Services is the expending agency, rather than the Office of the Governor, for appropriated funds for the establishment of puuhonua safe zones.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1223, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1223, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing,

 

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair