HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

535

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOMELESS PROGRAMS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that homelessness continues to be one of the State's most significant and challenging social problems.  The number of homeless persons in the State, estimated to be approximately six thousand on any given day, is indicative of the limited shelter space available.

     The legislature further finds that new and innovative solutions are needed to address the homelessness crisis.  Oregon, for example, has adopted laws that authorize political subdivisions to allow religious institutions to offer overnight camping space for homeless persons living in vehicles.  Similarly, Santa Barbara, California, has instituted a program that allows private organizations to use county-owned parking lots to provide overnight sleeping space for homeless persons with vehicles.

     The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of human services, in consultation with other state and county agencies and public or private homeless assistance programs, to support organizations willing to offer temporary nighttime parking lots to provide safe overnight locations for homeless persons who would otherwise sleep in their vehicles parked on private or public roads or property.  It is the legislature's intent that this program supplement existing policies and initiatives regarding the State's homeless population.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-375, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[346-375[]]  Temporary emergency shelter[.]; temporary nighttime parking lots.  (a)  In addition to any other duties prescribed by law, the department shall [develop,] support, in consultation with [the four counties,] other state and county agencies, a procedure for identifying locations that [shall] may be used for temporary emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families.  The department shall actively partner with and monitor the efforts of the counties.

     (b)  Each county shall [be responsible for partnering with] fund government agencies and profit and nonprofit organizations that want to [locate,] designate[,] and maintain [the] their parking lots as areas [that shall be used] for temporary emergency shelters.  The designated locations may include private, county, state, and federal lands.

     (c)  The department, in consultation with the mayor of the applicable county and any interested public or private homeless assistance programs, may designate in each county temporary nighttime parking lots that will be used to provide safe overnight parking for homeless individuals who live and sleep in their motor vehicles and who would otherwise park overnight on public or private roads or property.  To accommodate regular public parking daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., nighttime parking for homeless persons at these designated parking lots shall be allowed daily from 7:00 p.m. to not later than 6:00 a.m. the next day.  The department shall establish guidelines for organizations willing to designate and maintain their parking lot for the purpose of this section, including:

     (1)  Setting forth procedures to screen potential homeless individuals;

     (2)  Prohibiting alcohol or drug use by individuals using temporary nighttime parking lots; and

     (3)  Facilitating the provision of outreach, job counseling, and health care services to homeless individuals at temporary nighttime parking lots."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the designation of temporary nighttime parking lots to provide safe overnight locations for homeless individuals who live and sleep in their motor vehicles and who would otherwise park overnight on public or private roads or property.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

Homelessness; Temporary Nighttime Parking Lots; Appropriation

 

Description:

Authorizes the designation of temporary nighttime parking lots in each county to provide safe overnight parking for homeless individuals who live and sleep in their motor vehicles and who would otherwise park overnight on public or private roads or property.  Appropriates funds.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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