Bill Text: HI SB2810 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-15 - The committee on HMS deferred the measure. [SB2810 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2810-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2810
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to homelessness.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that homelessness is a major ongoing social issue with significant root causes, including issues related to health care, education, safety, living and work environments, and housing.  Addressing homelessness in the State requires several approaches, including timely administration of appropriate housing and human services.

     The legislature further finds that homeless individuals often remain on private property, which can make it more difficult for homeless service providers to assist these individuals.  If a homeless individual is on private property, a homeless service provider first needs to obtain permission from the private property owner, who may be difficult to find, before entering the property.  This can result in a delay in connecting a homeless individual to much-needed housing and human services.

     The purpose of this Act is to help ensure that homeless service providers are able to administer homeless services in a timely manner by:

     (1)  Requiring the governor's coordinator on homelessness to collect and maintain a database of private property owners who give prior consent for homeless service providers to enter an owner's private property, for purposes of administering homeless services to a homeless individual located on that private property; and

     (2)  Exempting homeless service providers from civil and criminal liability that may result from the administration of homeless services.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The governor's coordinator on homelessness shall collect and maintain a database of private property owners who give prior consent for homeless service providers to enter an owner's private property, for purposes of administering homeless services to a homeless individual located on that private property.

     (b)  The governor's coordinator on homelessness shall submit a progress report on the database and the coordinator's associated findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

     (c)  Regardless of whether prior consent by a private property owner was obtained, any homeless service provider that enters a private property to administer homeless services to a homeless individual shall be exempt from civil and criminal liability for any injury or damage resulting from the homeless service provider's administration of homeless services, except for gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions on the part of the homeless service provider.

     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 2022-2023 for outreach related to the collection and maintenance of the database of private property owners' consent established pursuant to this Act.

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Homelessness; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Private Property; Private Property Owners; Liability; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the governor's coordinator on homelessness to collect and maintain a database of private property owners who give prior consent for homeless service providers to enter an owner's private property, for purposes of administering homeless services to a homeless individual located on that private property.  Requires a report to the legislature.  Exempts homeless service providers from civil and criminal liability that may result from the administration of homeless services.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

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