CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 177-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2018

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2401

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sirs:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate assistance to individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

 

     More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes and appropriate funds for a three-year housing homeless children pilot program to provide housing assistance to families with minors that, due to domestic violence, are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless; and

 

     (2)  Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health to support various state programs to address homelessness.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in the State and requires robust, comprehensive solutions to increase the pace at which the State is gaining ground on addressing the issue.

 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by deleting its contents and:

 

     (1)  Establishing and appropriating moneys for an Ohana Zones Pilot Program, to be developed and implemented by agencies appointed by the Governor, to provide temporary housing and services to homeless individuals and families based on principles similar to the Housing First program;

 

     (2)  Establishing and appropriating moneys for an Emergency Department Homelessness Assessment Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services to assist individuals who are experiencing homelessness or patients who are at risk of experiencing homelessness and have high utilization of emergency department services;

 

     (3)  Establishing and appropriating moneys for a Medical Respite Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services to provide emergency housing, in partnership with a participating community human services provider, for eligible individuals experiencing homelessness who are discharged from a hospital;

 

     (4)  Appropriating moneys to the Department of Human Services for the establishment and administration of a new family assessment center for homeless families;

 

     (5)  Appropriating moneys for the Department of Health to continue administering the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Pilot Program, and to establish additional sites of the pilot program on the islands of Maui and Hawaii;

 

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018; and

 

     (7)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2401, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

____________________________

TOM BROWER

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO

Chair

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER

Co-Chair

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN

Co-Chair

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH

Co-Chair