STAND. COM. REP. NO.  381

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1187

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1187 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOMELESS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to reunite homeless persons stranded in Hawaii with their families and relatives in their home states.

 

     This bill directs the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to assist eligible homeless persons through the Return-to-Home Program (Program), which will help these individuals in reuniting with their families.  The sum of $75,000 is appropriated for each year of the fiscal biennium to implement the Program.

 

     The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and two concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  HPHA supported the intent of this measure.  No More Shelters and two concerned individuals offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the appropriated amount;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2046, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1187, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1187, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair