HB2512 SD2

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness remains a chronic issue in Hawaii. The legislature further finds that the ohana zones pilot program, established under Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, and Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, has thus far been effective at serving its intended purposes of providing housing and critical services to the State's homeless population. This pilot program, however, is set to expire on June 30, 2023.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Extend the ohana zones pilot program's sunset date by five years, to June 30, 2028;

(2) Upon expiration of the ohana zones pilot program on June 30, 2028, establish an ohana zones program within the Hawaii public housing authority as part of its rental assistance programs; and

(3) Appropriate moneys for the extension of the ohana zones pilot program and expenses related to facility construction, renovation, and maintenance; provision of services and staffing; and administrative costs.

SECTION 2. Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, section 3, as amended by Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, section 1, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

"(d) The ohana zones pilot program may provide the following facilities and services at each ohana zone site:

(1) Secure dwelling spaces that:

(A) May be private or communal;

(B) Have access to toilets, showers, and other hygiene facilities; and

(2) Medical and social support services; and

(3) Transportation to appointments related to medical care or supportive services that are not available onsite[.];

provided that a person receiving accommodations or services from an ohana zone site may request a ninety-day extension of the person's receipt of accommodations or services, subject to approval by the applicable ohana zone site and other eligibility criteria as determined by each ohana zone site."

SECTION 3. Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, section 4, as amended by Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, section 1, is amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. (a) Contracts entered into by the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program shall be exempt from the requirements of chapters 103D and 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(b) The agencies designated by the governor shall establish no later than December 31, 2018, the following:

(1) The criteria that the agencies will use to evaluate potential ohana zone locations;

(2) A monthly timetable of milestones that the agencies expect to meet in establishing one or more ohana zones over the course of the three-year pilot program;

(3) The specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-based performance measures that the agencies expect to meet at the end of each fiscal year;

(4) The evaluation criteria and process that the agencies intend to use each year when reviewing the success and sustainability of the ohana zones; and

(5) The monitoring and oversight controls that the agencies will have over the ohana zones to identify, address, and prevent possible fraud, waste, and abuse and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

(c) The governor's coordinator on homelessness shall compile and consolidate information from the agencies designated by the governor to effectuate this part and submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of [~~2020, 2021, and 2022.~~] 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.

[~~(d) The report submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020 shall include the following information:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~A summary and explanation of the process that the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program engaged in to identify possible ohana zone locations; and~~

~~(2)~~ ~~A summary of the information required under subsection (b).~~

~~(e)~~] (d) The reports submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of [~~2021 and 2022~~] 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 shall include the following information:

(1) The milestones established pursuant to subsection (b) that were met by the agencies designated by the governor pursuant to the ohana zones pilot program and ohana zones established during the fiscal year;

(2) An evaluation of the ohana zones to determine whether the objectives set have been met or exceeded;

(3) Any proposed changes that need to be made to the performance measures used to assess the achievement of program goals; and

(4) An assessment of the impact of the ohana zone model on the homelessness problem in Hawaii.

[~~(f)~~] (e) The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, [~~2023.~~] 2028."

SECTION 4. (a) Upon the June 30, 2028, expiration of the ohana zones pilot program, established pursuant to Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, as amended by Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, and as amended further by sections 2 and 3 of this Act, there shall be established an ohana zones program within the Hawaii public housing authority's rental assistance programs for administrative and funding purposes.

(b) The ohana zones program established pursuant to this section shall provide temporary housing and services to homeless individuals and families based on principles similar to the housing first program, and shall be substantially similar to the pilot program established pursuant to Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, as amended by Act 128, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, and as amended further by sections 2 and 3 of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2512
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2