Bill Text: HI HB1281 | 2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-03-24 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDL/WAM. [HB1281 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-HB1281-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1281 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that according to the 2016 point-in-time, the number of homeless people in Hawaii rose by about four per cent from 2015 to 2016. Despite increased efforts and resources to reduce homelessness in Hawaii, homelessness has remained a significant issue. Homeless individuals often rely on panhandling for income. Citations and jail time for panhandling can be disruptive and exacerbate the problem. Further, it has often been difficult for service providers to connect with homeless individuals and identify the services they need, such as mental health or substance abuse treatment.
The legislature recognizes that pilot programs throughout the United States provide homeless individuals with temporary work while providing easy access to services. A pilot program launched in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has received national attention. The program connects homeless individuals with work cleaning up public spaces and is proving to be a success. A similar program introduced in Tucson, Arizona, assists homeless individuals with temporary jobs.
The legislature further finds that in Hawaii, some service providers assist homeless individuals with temporary work. However, those programs are limited to small areas, and thus are not available to the vast majority of homeless individuals in communities throughout the State. The legislature also finds that since problems like graffiti and litter remain prevalent throughout Hawaii, the State could employ homeless individuals to help reduce those problems.
The purpose of this part is to establish a pilot program that:
(1) Assists homeless individuals with a path to employment in the general workforce and pre-vocational training for those who require such a transition;
(2) Allows homeless individuals who face barriers and stigmas based on their background to seek employment opportunities; and
(3) Connects homeless individuals with service providers.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established a three-year homeless employment pilot program that shall be administered by the department of labor and industrial relations.
(b) The homeless employment pilot program shall:
(1) Connect homeless individuals with work opportunities;
(2) Pay individuals in the program for the hours they worked in the day, which may include a limited amount of time spent with service providers; provided that the source of funding for the payments shall be the homeless employment pilot program's funds;
(3) Qualify homeless individuals for and connect them to housing programs; and
(4) When appropriate, transport participants in the program to a shelter at the end of the work day.
(c) The homeless individuals who work pursuant to subsection (b) shall not be considered employees of the State solely as a result of their work in the homeless employment pilot program.
(d) The State shall be immune from suit and liability for any claim for damage to or loss of property, personal injury, or other civil liability caused, arising out of, or relating to any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred at any stage of the planning and administration of the homeless employment pilot program.
(e) The department of labor and industrial relations shall submit a report that includes:
(1) The progress on the homeless employment pilot program;
(2) Any findings and recommendations; and
(3) Any necessary proposed legislation,
to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2018.
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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the purpose of establishing a three-year homeless employment pilot program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this part.
PART II
SECTION 4. (a) The auditor shall conduct a study to assess the impact of using medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment for homelessness, including the costs to provide coverage for the chronically homeless population in the State; provided that for the purposes of this part, "treatment" or "treatment for homelessness" includes:
(1) Behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services;
(2) Case management;
(3) Personal care and personal assistance services;
(4) Home and community-based services; and
(5) Housing services.
(b) The auditor shall submit findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.
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 2017-2018 for the purpose of conducting a study to assess the impact of using medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment of homelessness; provided that no funds appropriated under this part shall be expended unless matched dollar-for-dollar with federal funds.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the auditor for the purposes of this part.
PART III
SECTION 6. (a) The department of human services, in collaboration with the department of health, shall review the progress of the Hawaii pathways project pilot and continue to pursue efforts to utilize medicaid to provide supportive housing services for chronically homeless individuals.
(b) In planning for the expansion of supportive housing services provided through medicaid managed care plans, the department of human services shall consider the following:
(1) Benefit eligibility, including criteria related to:
(A) Health conditions;
(B) Housing status; and
(C) Current or potential system costs;
(2) Supportive housing services, including but not limited to:
(A) Outreach and engagement;
(B) Housing search assistance;
(C) Tenancy rights and responsibilities education;
(D) Eviction prevention;
(E) Service plan development;
(F) Coordination with primary care and health homes;
(G) Coordination with substance use treatment providers;
(H) Coordination with mental health providers;
(I) Coordination of vision and dental providers;
(J) Coordination with hospitals and emergency departments;
(K) Crisis intervention and critical time intervention;
(L) Independent living skills coaching; and
(M) Linkages to education, job skills training, and employment;
(3) Applying to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to pursue an amendment of the state 1115 medicaid waiver;
(4) Financing and reinvestment strategies, including:
(A) Health care costs and housing status of current medicaid beneficiaries;
(B) The degree to which accurate and up-to-date information on housing status is available for current medicaid beneficiaries;
(C) Health care costs of current residents of supportive housing;
(D) Health care costs of the medicaid-expansion population;
(E) Potential impact on costs to other systems, such as jails, long-term care, and treatment facilities;
(F) Affordable housing investments that can be leveraged to create new units of supportive housing; and
(G) Amount of flexible service dollars available to cover the costs that medicaid cannot; and
(5) Administration of the benefit, including:
(A) The role of managed care;
(B) The role of supportive housing service providers; and
(C) Coordination with existing and emerging systems.
(c) The department of human services shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the status of its efforts, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018. The report shall include:
(1) The status of the proposed amendment to expand the state 1115 medicaid waiver;
(2) A description of supportive housing services to be provided to the chronically homeless population; and
(3) Proposed eligibility criteria to qualify for supportive housing services.
SECTION 7. 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 2017-2018 for the purposes of this part; provided that no funds appropriated under this part shall be expended unless matched dollar-for-dollar with federal funds.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.
PART IV
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2075.
Report Title:
Homeless Employment Pilot Program; Homelessness; Study; Auditor; Medicaid; Housing Services; Appropriation
Description:
Part I: Establishes a three-year Homeless Employment Pilot Program that provides homeless individuals with work opportunities and connects them with service providers. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2018 Regular Session on implementing the program. Appropriates funds to establish the pilot program. Part II: Requires the auditor to conduct a study to assess the impact of using medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment for homelessness. Requires the auditor to submit a report to the legislature. Makes an appropriation. Part III: Requires the department of human services, in collaboration with the department of health, to review the progress of the Hawaii pathways project pilot and continue to pursue efforts to utilize medicaid to provide supportive housing services for chronically homeless individuals. Provides considerations for the department in planning for the expansion of supportive housing services provided through medicaid managed care plans. Requires the department to report to the legislature. Makes an appropriation. Takes effect 7/1/2075. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
