STAND. COM. REP. NO. 521

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 483

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services, Housing, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 483 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)  Authorize the use of private lands for the ohana zones pilot program;

 

     (2)  Extend the sunset dates of the Emergency Department Homelessness Assessment and Medical Respite pilot programs of the Department of Human Services to June 30, 2020; and

 

     (3)  Require reports to the Legislature.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor's Office of the County of Hawaii, Our Revolution Hawaii, HOPE Services Hawaii; and three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that safe zones provide a housing alternative for homeless individuals and families.  Your Committees further find that Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 209), established an ohana zones pilot program to provide safe zones in the State.  Ohana zones are designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness find and transition into permanent housing and provide them with needed services.  This measure broadens the scope of the ohana zones pilot program by allowing for public-private partnerships on private land, which will expedite the construction of appropriate housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

 

     Your Committees request that when the State enters into a partnership with the owner of private land, as authorized by this measure, that the State uses a form or template similar to the Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Guidelines for Temporary Emergency Housing on TMK No. (3) 1-5-006:017 between HOPE Services, Inc., and the County of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Extending the deadline for the Department of Human Services to implement the ohana zones pilot project, including extending the sunset date of the project; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services, Housing, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 483, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 483, 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, Housing, and Government Operations,

 

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair

 

________________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair

 

 

________________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair