HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

374

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the state coordinator on homelessness.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Statutorily establish the position of state coordinator on homelessness; and

     (2)  Specify that the state coordinator on homelessness reports directly to the lieutenant governor.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XVII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    State coordinator on homelessness; establishment; responsibilities.  (a)  There is established within the department for administrative purposes only, a state coordinator on homelessness to organize, manage, and oversee the coordination of statewide efforts to end homelessness.  The state coordinator on homelessness shall report directly to the lieutenant governor and shall:

     (1)  Serve as the principal officer in state government responsible for the performance, development, and oversight of programs, policies, and activities relating to homelessness;

     (2)  Be responsible for ensuring the development, implementation, and management of plans developed by the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness pursuant to section 346-381;

     (3)  Coordinate with the homeless coordinator of each county to ensure statewide coordination, minimize duplication of efforts, and monitor and benchmark progress on the mitigation and management of homelessness in each county;

     (4)  Communicate with departments and agencies providing rental subsidies and housing assistance; and

     (5)  Develop and implement plans to increase affordable housing units through the identification of viable lands and supporting housing projects to ensure coordination and collaboration.

     (b)  The state coordinator on homelessness may:

     (1)  Employ persons exempt from chapters 76 and 89; and

     (2)  Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section.

     (c)  The office of the lieutenant governor shall provide office space to the state coordinator on homelessness and related staff; provided that if the office of the lieutenant governor is unable to provide adequate office space, the department shall provide adequate office space to the state coordinator on homelessness and related staff."

     SECTION 3.  Section 26-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the lieutenant governor is designated the secretary of state for intergovernmental relations and shall perform the duties and functions heretofore exercised by the secretary of Hawaii.  The duties and functions shall include but not be limited to recordation of all legislative and gubernatorial acts, certification of state documents, [and] maintenance of an official file of rules adopted by state departments as provided in chapter 91[.], and supervision of the state coordinator on homelessness established under section 346-  .  The lieutenant governor may employ staff as necessary without regard to chapter 76."

     SECTION 4.  Section 346-382, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall be composed of the following members or the member's designee:

     (1)  [Governor's] State coordinator on homelessness, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  Director of human services;

     (3)  Administrator of the homeless programs office of the department of human services;

     (4)  Director of health;

     (5)  Director of labor and industrial relations;

     (6)  Director of public safety;

     (7)  Director of business, economic development, and tourism;

     (8)  Chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission;

     (9)  Adjutant general;

    (10)  Chairperson of the board of trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs;

    (11)  Attorney general;

    (12)  Superintendent of education;

    (13)  Two members of the house of representatives to be designated by the speaker of the house of representatives, of whom one member shall be designated by the speaker of the house of representatives to serve as an alternate member on the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness to serve in the other member's absence;

    (14)  Two members of the senate to be designated by the president of the senate, of whom one member shall be designated by the president of the senate to serve as an alternate member on the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness to serve in the other member's absence;

    (15)  A representative of the Hawaii public housing authority;

    (16)  The mayor of each county;

    (17)  A representative of the continuum of care programs in each county, to be designated by the respective mayors;

    (18)  A representative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who shall be requested to serve by the governor;

    (19)  A representative from the Office of Community Planning and Development, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, who shall be requested to serve by the governor;

    (20)  A representative of a faith-based organization with interfaith relationships, to be designated by the governor; and

    (21)  A representative of the business community, to be designated by the governor."

     SECTION 5.  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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021:

     (1)  To establish the state coordinator on homelessness as one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position; and

     (2)  For other expenses of the state coordinator on homelessness, including hiring of necessary staff.

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

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

State Coordinator on Homelessness; Lieutenant Governor; Establishment; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the position of state coordinator on homelessness and requires the state coordinator on homelessness to report directly to the lieutenant governor.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

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