STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2917

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1889

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A HOMELESS PERSON'S BILL OF RIGHTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a homeless person's bill of rights to guarantee that the rights, privacy, and property of homeless persons are protected.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, IMUAlliance, Hawaii Guerrilla Video Hui, Hoopae Pono Peace Project, and sixteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that certain local ordinances have recently served to criminalize and dehumanize the State's homeless population.  Your Committee finds that it is important to recognize that the protection of the law extends equally to all, even individuals who are without a home and may not be able to advocate for their own basic civil rights.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair