STAND. COM. REP. NO. 272-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2325

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2325 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continued implementation of the Return-to-Home Pilot Program to provide eligible homeless individuals with assistance in reuniting with family and relatives in their home state.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Department of Human Services; and two individuals.

Your Committees find that many homeless individuals thrive when access to familiar support groups and loving family members is readily available. Your Committees further find that the three-year Return-to-Home Pilot Program that assists individuals in being reunited with family in their home state has successfully reunited homeless individuals from the continental United States with their families. Your Committees recognize that additional funds are needed to continue this program.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2325, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2325, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health & Homelessness,

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair