Bill Text: HI HB876 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 876 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-28 - Referred to HSH/WLH, FIN, referral sheet 6 [HB876 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-HB876-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	876
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
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 many chronically homeless individuals have been helped by "Housing First" programs. Unfortunately, due to economic constraints, the supply of subsidized housing is and will continue to be woefully insufficient for the foreseeable future. Consequently, illegal homeless camps, which are a public health menace, are ubiquitous. The State must therefore adopt emergency measures which can be implemented quickly, within current budgetary constraints. The legislature further finds that the goals of "Housing First" can be accomplished in any type of clean, safe, and comfortable dwelling with supportive services.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to direct the department of human services to establish residential campgrounds with full supportive services for the homeless, utilizing undeveloped government land located in industrial zones.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to Part XVII to be appropriately designated and read as follows:

"§346- Residential campgrounds. (a) The department of human services shall establish and implement residential campgrounds for the homeless on undeveloped government lands located in industrial zones.

(b) The department of human services shall enter into agreements with agencies in charge of state lands, agencies in charge of city and county lands designated under section 364-375, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding surplus federal lands pursuant to title 42 United States Code section 11301 et seq., as necessary, to use those lands as residential campgrounds for the homeless.

(c) The department of human services, in consultation with the department of accounting and general services as necessary, shall arrange for the construction of residential campground facilities. Wherever possible, such facilities shall be temporary structures capable of being erected quickly, on a large scale, at a minimal cost.

(d) Residential campgrounds for the homeless established pursuant to this section shall at minimum provide:

(1) Designated campsites large enough for a tent or other temporary structure;

(2) A secure place to lock valuables;

(3) Parking spaces within a reasonable distance from the designated campsites;

(4) Reasonable access to public transportation, which may be accomplished by working with the relevant public transportation agencies to re-route buses as needed;

(5) A place to build a fire for cooking;

(6) Communal men's and women's bathrooms and showers;

(7) Systems to collect and dispose of trash and other waste;

(8) A mailing address and a system to allow residents to securely receive mail;

(9) Places within each campground where the department of human services, and other public and private organizations, can provide supportive services for the homeless; and

(10) An earnership program allowing residents to earn benefits by volunteering to maintain and service the campground. Residents participating in an earnership program shall be considered emergency or transitional shelter volunteers as defined in section 346-370 and shall not be considered employees.

(e) The department of human services shall develop and implement residential campgrounds in accordance with the relevant principles of a housing first program under section 346-378, and shall develop and offer support services to campground residents that are substantially equivalent to those offered to housing first program-participants.

(f) The director shall adopt rules for residential campgrounds as necessary. Rules adopted to implement this section shall be exempt from the public notice and public hearing requirements of chapter 91. Such rules shall:

(1) Allow anyone admission to a residential campground without qualification as long as there is space available, unless the person seeking admission is a danger to others;

(2) Provide for referral to law enforcement, if necessary, of anyone who violates any applicable law or rule, but not allow eviction from the residential campground as a punishment for or consequence of such violation unless the person in violation is a danger to others; and

(3) Provide residents the freedom to live in tents, other temporary structures, or automobiles.

(g) The department of human services shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2020. The annual report shall include:

(1) The total number of residential campgrounds and the total number of residents;

(2) The annual costs of the residential campgrounds;

(3) The types of support services offered at residential campgrounds; and

(4) Information regarding the duration of residency and the services utilized by residents.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff.

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

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Residential Campgrounds; Homeless

Description:

Directs the department of human services to develop and implement residential campgrounds for the homeless.

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