STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3032

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2371

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2371, 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 establish a statewide homelessness information system working group to assess the feasibility of establishing a statewide information system that collects and tracks real-time data related to homelessness in the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Partners In Care, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that the implementation of a statewide information system to collect and track real-time data related to homelessness will help to provide efficient and effective assistance to individuals throughout the State who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness. Your Committee believes that establishing a working group to determine the feasibility of this endeavor is a necessary first step.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inviting, rather than requiring, representatives from specific private entities to serve on the task force;

(2) Specifying the appointing authority for certain listed task force members;

(3) Requiring that the legislative committee chairs appointed to the working group serve as co-chairs of the working group;

(4) Clarifying the contents of the working group's report to the Legislature;

(5) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified sum for the Department of Human Services to contract with a third‑party to prepare the working group's required report; and

(6) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2371, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2371, 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