STAND. COM. REP. NO. 953

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1040

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1040, 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 assist certain beneficiaries under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands the rent-with-option-to-purchase pilot program on the Leeward Coast of Oahu, which shall provide to the foregoing beneficiaries certain housing units and services; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to establish and administer the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Procurement Office; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hydroponics Alternatives, LLC; Malama Makua; and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Information Practices, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiians are affected by homelessness at a higher rate than other ethnicities. Your Committee also finds that a pilot program, as proposed by this measure, can help reduce homelessness among this population.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting an unnecessary reference to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Clarifying the circumstance under which the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands shall facilitate the transfer of ownership of a housing unit;

(3) Providing that the use of the individual or shared micro housing units may be used for affordable housing as may be determined by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands;

(4) Redefining the term "threatened with homelessness" to refer to the certain expenses associated with maintaining a residence;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(6) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 1040, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1040, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair