Bill Text: HI SB2594 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 2594 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Homeless; Homeless Programs Office; Designated safe facilities; Keiki Caucus; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-08 - (H) Referred to HSG, HUS, FIN, referral sheet 41 [SB2594 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2594-Amended.html

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2769

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2594

S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2594, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the safety and well-being of homeless persons and families in Hawaii.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Homeless Programs Office of the Department of Human Services to designate safe areas for homeless persons to reside in until permanent housing becomes available and to establish rules and a code of conduct for the designated safe areas;

(2) Requires a partnership of the nonprofit and community service organizations and coordination with state and county law enforcement officials for the safety of the persons residing in the designated safe areas; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for the establishment of designated safe areas.

Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Written comments in opposition of this measure were submitted by the Department of Human Services and Partners in Care Oahu's Coalition of Homeless Providers.

Your Committee finds that homelessness is a problem that is prevalent in this State and that this measure provides homeless persons and families a safe temporary shelter until permanent housing is available.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying the language requiring the Homeless Programs Office to establish designated safe areas as a new statutory section in part XVII of chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing the phrase "designated safe areas" to "designated safe facilities"; and the phrase "minimal security" to "adequate security" for clarification purposes;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote the further discussion of this measure; and

(4) Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified amount.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2594, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2594, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair