STAND. COM. REP. NO. 873

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1031

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address homelessness among senior citizens.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a long-term rental assistance pilot program to be administered by the Department of Health; and

(2) Appropriates funds for the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, Oahu County Democrats, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Partners in Care, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that the State needs a long-term solution to the State's homelessness crisis. Your Committee further finds that this measure attempts to address homelessness among Hawaii's seniors by establishing a long-term rental assistance pilot program.

Your Committee notes that the proposed pilot program will require appropriations of $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) 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 S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1031, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair