Bill Text: HI SB1085 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Relating To Homelessness.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB1085 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB1085-Amended.html

---

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1085
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017		S.D. 1
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 persists as a problem in Hawaii.  Homelessness can be found on all islands, but the largest homeless population is on Oahu, where health care, feeding programs, temporary shelter, and other social services are most readily available to the needy.  The State has made some progress in addressing this growing challenge, with millions of dollars in public funding earmarked for services, attempts to expand the inventory of affordable housing, and related efforts.

     In Waikiki, the engine that powers Hawaii's tourism economy, the homelessness problem has become so acute that the hospitality industry, through the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association and the Hilton Hawaiian Village in particular, has stepped forward to fill the void in government funding and services.  They have done so by donating more than $2,000,000 to the Institute for Human Services, other Oahu-based social service providers, and charitable organizations on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii island for homelessness programs and outreach.  The results have been that large numbers of homeless have found shelter and much-needed services.

     The legislature further finds that despite the best efforts of the state and county governments and the private sector in contributing sorely needed funds, homelessness continues to adversely affect our communities and our top industry, tourism, as homeless individuals continue to populate the beaches, parks, and other open public spaces.

     The purpose of this Act is to allocate $2,000,000 of annual transient accommodations tax revenues for homelessness services in tourism-impacted areas.  It is in the public's best interest to help address this problem by using funds generated from visitors to contribute to improving the environment in Waikiki, urban Honolulu, and throughout the State.

     SECTION 2.  Section 237D-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Revenues collected under this chapter shall be distributed in the following priority, with the excess revenues to be deposited into the general fund:

     (1)  $1,500,000 shall be allocated to the Turtle Bay conservation easement special fund beginning July 1, 2015, for the reimbursement to the state general fund of debt service on reimbursable general obligation bonds, including ongoing expenses related to the issuance of the bonds, the proceeds of which were used to acquire the conservation easement and other real property interests in Turtle Bay, Oahu, for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of natural resources important to the State, until the bonds are fully amortized;

     (2)  $26,500,000 shall be allocated to the convention center enterprise special fund established under section 201B-8;

     (3)  $82,000,000 shall be allocated to the tourism special fund established under section 201B-11; provided that:

         (A)  Beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015, $2,000,000 shall be expended from the tourism special fund for development and implementation of initiatives to take advantage of expanded visa programs and increased travel opportunities for international visitors to Hawaii;

         (B)  Of the $82,000,000 allocated:

              (i)  $1,000,000 shall be allocated for the operation of a Hawaiian center and the museum of Hawaiian music and dance at the Hawaii convention center; and

             (ii)  0.5 per cent of the $82,000,000 shall be transferred to a sub-account in the tourism special fund to provide funding for a safety and security budget, in accordance with the Hawaii tourism strategic plan 2005-2015; and

         (C)  Of the revenues remaining in the tourism special fund after revenues have been deposited as provided in this paragraph and except for any sum authorized by the legislature for expenditure from revenues subject to this paragraph, beginning July 1, 2007, funds shall be deposited into the tourism emergency special fund, established in section 201B-10, in a manner sufficient to maintain a fund balance of $5,000,000 in the tourism emergency special fund;

     (4)  $103,000,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015, $103,000,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016, $103,000,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017, and $93,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter shall be allocated as follows:  Kauai county shall receive 14.5 per cent, Hawaii county shall receive 18.6 per cent, city and county of Honolulu shall receive 44.1 per cent, and Maui county shall receive 22.8 per cent; provided that commencing with fiscal year 2018-2019, a sum that represents the difference between a county public employer's annual required contribution for the separate trust fund established under section 87A-42 and the amount of the county public employer's contributions into that trust fund shall be retained by the state director of finance and deposited to the credit of the county public employer's annual required contribution into that trust fund in each fiscal year, as provided in section 87A-42, if the respective county fails to remit the total amount of the county's required annual contributions, as required under section 87A-43; [and]

     (5)  $3,000,000 shall be allocated to the special land and development fund established under section 171-19; provided that the allocation shall be expended in accordance with the Hawaii tourism authority strategic plan for:

         (A)  The protection, preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of natural resources, including beaches, important to the visitor industry;

         (B)  Planning, construction, and repair of facilities; and

         (C)  Operation and maintenance costs of public lands, including beaches, connected with enhancing the visitor experience[.]; and

     (6)  $2,000,000 shall be distributed to the department of human services to contract with provider agencies, as defined in section 346-361, operating or managing a homeless facility or any other program for the homeless pursuant to part XVII of chapter 346 in tourism-impacted areas.

     All transient accommodations taxes shall be paid into the state treasury each month within ten days after collection and shall be kept by the state director of finance in special accounts for distribution as provided in this subsection.

     As used in this subsection, "fiscal year" means the twelve-month period beginning on July 1 of a calendar year and ending on June 30 of the following calendar year."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Transient Accommodations Tax; Homeless Services; Provider Agency

 

Description:

Allocates $2,000,000 of annual transient accommodations tax revenues to DHS to contract with provider agencies operating or managing a homeless facility or any other program for homeless persons in tourism-impacted areas.  Takes effect 1/1/2018.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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