STAND. COM. REP. NO. 49

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 221

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 221 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to develop plans for the four counties of Hawaii to coordinate the services and shelter facilities of public agencies and nonprofit organizations to meet the concerns of communities impacted by homelessness.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Youth Services Network, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, and Catholic Charities Hawaii.

Your Committees find that each county has unique regional needs regarding the impact of homelessness, and that coordination with the four counties is critical. This measure will allow for specific regional plans for each county to complement the overall ten-year plan set forth in section 346-381(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness to "formulate, and advise the governor on the implementation of, a unified ten-year statewide plan to address homelessness in all Hawaii counties." Your Committees find that this measure will encourage further coordination among the four counties and the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to effectively address regional needs, including an assessment of additional resources that may be required.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of May 1, 2029, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 221, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 221, 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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair