STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1257

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Auditor to conduct a study to assess the impact of using Medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment of homelessness, including the costs to provide coverage for the chronically homeless population in the State, and to appropriate funds for this purpose.

 

     The CHOW Project and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of the Auditor, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Requiring the Auditor to conduct the study with the assistance of DHS;

 

(2)  Specifying that DHS may assist the Auditor in pursuing federal funds for the purpose of conducting the study; and

 

(3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2090, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair