STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1025-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2579
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to
which was referred S.B. No. 2579, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide homeless persons
needing treatment for mental illness and substance abuse the
support needed to maintain housing by:

     (1)  Establishing the Special Needs Housing Special Fund
          (Special Fund) to be used to provide supportive housing
          for persons with mental illness and substance abuse
          addictions in the homeless population; and

     (2)  Authorizing an unspecified amount in general obligation
          bonds to be deposited into the Special Fund.

     The Health Care for the Homeless Project, the National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Oahu, the Hawaii Substance Abuse
Coalition, the Mental Health Association in Hawaii, the
Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, the Institute for Human
Services, and several individuals testified in support of this
measure.

     The Department of Public Safety, the Department of Health,
and the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii
testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The
Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1025-00
                                 Page 2

 

     This measure provides the necessary housing needed for a
safe, secure environment away from street drugs, crime, and the
influences that prevents these vulnerable populations from
seeking and finding treatment and services.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that all moneys for the Special Fund will be
          provided only from gifts, donations, and grants from
          public agencies and private persons;

     (2)  Authorizing $5,000,000 for the issuance of general
          obligation bonds to provide supportive housing for
          persons with mental illness and substance abuse
          addictions in the homeless population;

     (3)  Providing that no funds will be made available unless
          the private sector provides a twenty percent match; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are
attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2579, S.D. 1, as amended herein,
and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 2579, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the
Committee on Finance.

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

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair