STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3413

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1744

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1744, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize:

(1) The issuance of general obligation bond proceeds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to begin the development and construction of permanent supportive housing units to meet the needs of chronically homeless individuals and families and other vulnerable populations in the State; and

(2) The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to consider any application from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, partner, or both, for competitive federal low-income housing tax credits for the construction of these units.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Partners In Care, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committees find that Hawaii has one of the highest homelessness rate in the nation, which is, in part, driven by insufficient affordable housing. This measure will address the problem of chronic homelessness in Hawaii, which is a particularly costly problem for the State and one that puts a heavy burden on the State's health care and emergency service systems.

Your Committees note the testimony of the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, suggesting the establishment of a pilot program targeting the needs of homeless individuals with serious mental illness, chronic medical conditions, and chronic substance abuse; and in particular, by providing additional short-term shelter and triage capacity.

Your Committees also note the testimony of the State Procurement Office, objecting to the exemption from the Hawaii Procurement Code provided to Hawaii Public Housing Authority under this measure.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing a five-year Homelessness Triage Center Pilot Program to be administered by the Department of Human Services to assist homeless adults with serious mental illness, chronic medical conditions, or chronic substance abuse issues access appropriate treatment, shelter, care, and housing by providing temporary shelter and referral services;

(2) Appropriating $2,500,000 out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii for the establishment, implementation, and administration of the homeless triage center pilot program, including funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) planner or specialist position;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(4) Deleting section 3(a), which exempts the Hawaii Public Housing Authority from the Hawaii Procurement Code for the purposes of this measure;

(5) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) 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 and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1744, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1744, H.D. 2, 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,

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair