Bill Text: HI HB1735 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Homelessness; Interagency Council; Department of Human Services; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-23 - (H) The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB1735 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-HB1735-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1735 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HOMELESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness is a societal problem that has plagued Hawaii and the nation for many years. Although great strides have been made to address the issue of homelessness, Hawaii has experienced an increase in the number of homeless persons. Homelessness remains a complex issue involving coordination, planning, implementation, and funding among state and county agencies, non-profit entities, and the federal government.
On June 22, 2010, the cabinet secretaries from the federal Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs joined the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to unveil and submit to the President and Congress the nation's first comprehensive strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is composed of nineteen federal agencies to coordinate the nation's housing, health, employment security, education, and human services functions to create a national partnership among every level of government, and the private sector to maximize the effectiveness of the federal government's response in addressing homelessness.
Described by the federal government as the most ambitious program in history to prevent and end homelessness, the strategic plan will strengthen existing programs and forge new partnerships. Working together with Congress, state and local officials, faith-based and community organizations, and business and philanthropic leaders across the country, the plan will harness public and private resources to build on proven local-level innovations.
The legislature finds that Hawaii must have a mechanism similar to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to formulate and coordinate a unified plan to address homelessness in all counties and facilitate the acquisition of federal funding for homeless programs. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness recommends that the states establish such a state agency by legislative action or executive order, or both.
The purpose of this Act is to establish the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness, which shall be an advisory body exempt from section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall be attached to the department of human services for administrative purposes. The director of human services shall serve as the ad hoc coordinator of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness. The members of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.
(b) The Hawaii interagency council on homelessness shall:
(1) Be responsible for organizing its member entities to formulate and coordinate a unified plan to address homelessness in all counties and facilitate the acquisition of federal funding for homeless programs;
(2) Serve as the statewide homelessness planning and policy development entity with broad representation from state and county government and the community;
(3) Formulate and advise on the implementation of a unified, statewide plan to address homelessness in all counties;
(4) Consider collaborative homelessness initiatives of other states that have demonstrated positive measurable outcomes as possible models for state and local programs;
(5) Promote systems integration of social, health, training, and housing services to reduce duplication among homeless assistance programs;
(6) Develop short-term and long-term statewide strategies and plans to end homelessness with an emphasis on eliminating chronic homelessness; and
(7) Report annually to the governor, the legislature, and the mayors on the progress of its activities, including the formulation and progress of the unified, statewide plan.
(c) As used in this Act, "council" means the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness.
SECTION 3. The council shall be composed of at least one representative from each of the following:
(1) The office of the governor, to be designated by the governor;
(2) The benefit, employment, and support services division of the department of human services, to be designated by the director of human services;
(3) The homeless programs office of the department of human services, to be designated by the director of human services;
(4) The Hawaii public housing authority, to be designated by the director of human services;
(5) The adult mental health division of the department of health, to be designated by the director of health;
(6) The alcohol and drug abuse division of the department of health, to be designated by the director of health;
(7) The director of public safety or the director's designee;
(8) The mayor of each county or the respective mayor's designee;
(9) A representative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
(10) A representative from the Office of Community Planning and Development, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(11) A representative of a faith-based organization with interfaith relationships, to be designated by the governor;
(12) The workforce development division of the department of labor and industrial relations, to be designated by the director of labor and industrial relations; and
(13) The office of Hawaiian affairs, to be designated by the chair of the board of trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs.
SECTION 4. The council shall meet quarterly, or more frequently as it deems necessary. A majority of the council members shall constitute a quorum to do business and to validate any decision or act of the council.
In the event a council member is unable to attend a meeting, the member may appoint a designee to attend and to act on the member's behalf during the meeting.
SECTION 5. (a) The council shall have the duties as provided in this section; provided that:
(1) The council may prioritize the duties, adapt or modify any duty to the circumstances, and refrain from exercising any duty if changing circumstances make the duty no longer necessary or if a particular duty conflicts with another law or duty of another agency; and
(2) The council shall endeavor to coordinate the duties, responsibilities, and functions of all members of the council.
SECTION 6. The unified, statewide plan under section 2(b)(3) of this Act shall be developed to assist individuals who are homeless or facing homelessness; prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable individuals and families; encourage and promote partnerships between public and private entities to identify, renovate, and secure dignified transitional, as well as, permanent housing options; promote development and utilization of support services including job training, mental health, and substance abuse treatment that will enhance the transition out of homelessness; increase access to public areas for all members of the community; support efforts to obtain accurate statistics on those who are homeless; and activate, coordinate, and maintain responsive action among the public, philanthropic, business, and faith-based communities to become part of the homelessness solution strategy.
SECTION 7. The department of human services shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing safe havens for persons who are homeless in the State. The study shall include:
(1) Defining "safe haven";
(2) Identifying the demand or need for safe havens in the State;
(3) Determining the effectiveness of safe havens and alternatives to safe havens;
(4) Determining the services, facilities, staffing, and other resources that are needed for a safe haven;
(5) Assessing the costs involved in developing and constructing a safe haven; and
(6) Identifying safe havens in other states that can serve as models for implementation.
The department of human services shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2013.
SECTION 8. If any provision of this Act is found to be in conflict with a federal requirement, the federal requirement shall prevail and the provision shall be deemed to be amended to conform to the federal government.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2018.
Report Title:
Homelessness; Interagency Council; Department of Human Services; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness under the Department of Human Services for administrative purposes. Requires the Department of Human Services to conduct a study on establishing safe havens in the State and to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2013 Regular Session on its findings and recommendations from the study. Repealed June 30, 2018. (HB1735 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
