STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2219

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2854

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2854 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Vacated Encampment Clean Up Task Force to identify potential entities to enter into intergovernmental agreements to coordinate the clean up of vacated encampments located on lands managed by United States Army Garrison Hawaii and to appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Waikele Community Association and five individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Transportation, United States Army Garrison Hawaii, and Hawaii Military Affairs Council.

Your Committees find that there is a need to collaborate with intergovernmental departments to address the challenges of homelessness including those with encampments managed by the United States Army Garrison. Debris left behind when encampments are vacated pose environmental and public hazards, including risk of wildfires. Your Committees further find that an intergovernmental task force to identify and manage vacated encampments located on land managed by the United States Army Garrison will aid in addressing the challenges of homelessness.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2854, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2854, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair