Bill Text: HI SB271 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 271 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to CPH/WAM. [SB271 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SB271-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	271
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

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 homelessness continues to be an issue of concern for the State. Federal statistics indicate that as of 2015, Hawaii had four hundred eighty-seven homeless individuals per every one hundred thousand people, the highest rate per capita in the nation. In 2016, the legislature invested $10,000,000 in new funding to address this ongoing problem. The 2017-2018 executive biennium budget, as submitted by the governor, proposes to invest an additional $20,900,000 in new funding to address homelessness issues. However, the legislature believes that additional funding is necessary to ensure that the State has adequate resources to appropriately confront this challenge.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to allocate additional funding to the departments of human services, health, and transportation to support homelessness outreach, mitigation, and prevention efforts in the State.

PART II

SECTION 2. 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 to provide housing subsidies for homeless families through the rent supplement program.

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 housing first program to provide housing and supportive services to homeless individuals who may have mental health or addiction issues, and for the hiring of full-time equivalent ( FTE) positions.

SECTION 4. 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 to support the rapid rehousing program to move capable families out of shelters.

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 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to support the operations of the family and elderly housing program.

SECTION 6. 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 homeless outreach 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 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the storage of homeless people's property.

SECTION 8. The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

SECTION 9. 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 outreach services to homeless persons with serious and persistent mental illness.

SECTION 10. 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 outreach, counseling, and diversion services for unsheltered homeless persons experiencing substance abuse.

SECTION 11. The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

PART IV

SECTION 12. 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 to assist the highways division of the department of transportation to deal with homelessness-related issues pertaining to security, health, and safety.

The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

PART V

SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Homelessness; Appropriation

Description:

Makes appropriations to DHS, DOH, and DOT to assist with homelessness and housing issues.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.