Bill Text: HI HB1489 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1489 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: DHHL; OHA; Homeless; Pilot Program; Kanaka Village

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-18 - (H) Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting no and Carroll, Herkes, McKelvey excused. [HB1489 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HB1489-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1489
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness has been increasing rapidly in Hawaii and that the State has opened several new shelters. In spite of efforts by government and nonprofit organizations to provide overnight shelter to homeless persons, there are still many homeless individuals who sleep in public parks, along sidewalks, and other areas.

The legislature further finds that native Hawaiians constitute a substantial percentage of the homeless population in Hawaii. In fact, nearly forty per cent of the homeless population is native Hawaiian. Many of these individuals choose not to use homeless shelters because their lifestyles conflict with shelter rules.

The purpose of this Act is to address the disproportionate number of native Hawaiians among the State's homeless by requiring the office of Hawaiian affairs to develop a pilot program to establish kanaka villages for homeless native Hawaiians.

SECTION 2. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the office of Hawaiian affairs shall develop and implement a pilot program to establish kanaka villages on every island for native Hawaiians who are homeless. The office of Hawaiian affairs shall:

(1) Collaborate with the department of Hawaiian home lands and the Hawaii public housing authority to develop and implement the program;

(2) Designate areas in the State on which to establish the kanaka villages; and

(3) Establish kanaka villages on Hawaiian home lands.

(b) For the purposes of this Act, "kanaka villages" mean communities where native Hawaiians who are homeless may live in tents and subsist off the land using traditional Hawaiian methods of sustainability.

SECTION 3. The office of Hawaiian affairs, in consultation with the department of Hawaiian home lands and the Hawaii public housing authority, shall report to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2012, on actions taken on the pilot program. The report
shall include any pertinent information, recommendations, and necessary proposed legislation.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DHHL; OHA; Homeless; Pilot Program; Kanaka Village

Description:

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to develop a pilot program to establish kanaka villages for homeless native Hawaiians. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to work collaboratively and in consultation with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority on the pilot program. (HB1489 HD2)

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