STAND. COM. REP. NO. 415

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 729

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 729 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure certain monies appropriated to the Department of Human Services are used to fund core services that address homelessness.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hope Services Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Budget and Finance, and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that data from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization has shown that because of the severe economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the State, more than eleven thousand Hawaii tenants have fallen behind on their rent. Your Committee further finds that proposed cuts to the Department of Human Services threatens the ability of the Department of Human Services to adequately address the State's growing homelessness crisis.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 729, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 729, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair