STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3424

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 53

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 53 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ASSESS THE REGISTRATION AND MONITORING OF CLEAN AND SOBER HOMES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health to convene and lead an informal working group to discuss:

(1) The management of clean and sober homes; and

(2) Possible collaboration with the counties and other affected regulators to ensure that clean and sober homes comply with county regulations, and encourage registration without using restrictions that are discriminatory.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

Your Committee finds that Act 193, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, required the Department of Health to establish a Clean and Sober Homes Registry to assist persons recovering from substance abuse to have a safe, clean, and sober environment that supports their recovery. Your Committee further finds that a report submitted by a Clean and Sober Homes and Halfway Houses Workgroup that had been formed in 2012, comprising representatives from various state and county agencies and stakeholders, was instrumental in the adoption of the current voluntary clean and sober homes registry. Over ten years later, your Committee finds that while most clean and sober homes on the voluntary registry are well-run, some homes that are not on the registry violate their county land use laws by overcrowding, resulting in noise and parking complaints from their neighbors. This measure will allow the State and counties to collaborate once again to improve the current registry and support systems to ensure that all homes are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while balancing the needs of those requiring the support of these homes and the concerns of the community.

Your Committee notes the request in testimony that the informal working group discuss not only matters pertaining to clean and sober homes, but all types of group living facilities.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that urges the Department of Health to convene and lead an informal working group to discuss:

(A) The management of all group living facilities as described in section 46-4(d), Hawaii Revised Statutes, including clean and sober homes, rather than just clean and sober homes; and

(B) Possible collaboration with the counties and other affected regulators to ensure that all group living facilities as described in section 46-4(d), Hawaii Revised Statutes, rather than just clean and sober homes, comply with county regulations, and encourage registration without using restrictions that are discriminatory;

(2) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 53, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 53, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair