Hawaii-2018-SB1223-Amended

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness continues to be one of the State's most significant and challenging social problems. According to the 2016 Hawaii statewide homeless point-in-time count conducted in January 2016, there are 7,921 homeless individuals in the State, an overall increase of four per cent from 2015. Homeless persons face a myriad of issues, including general health issues, mental illness, and substance abuse. These issues affecting homeless persons also impact the general population through the costs of social and health care services. In fiscal years 2014 and 2015, The Queen's Medical Center reported treating 3,441 patients who were homeless. Treating these homeless individuals is sometimes uncompensated, as is the case with an unsheltered patient who reportedly received treatment 12,271 times over two years, which cost The Queen's Medical Center more than $5,000,000 per year.

The legislature further finds that mobile clinics are increasing in popularity across the nation as government entities find ways to address the health care needs of the homeless population. In places such as Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; and San Jose, California, mobile clinics offer a variety of free health care services for local homeless populations, saving significant costs on emergency room visits.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for establishing, staffing, and operating two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to purchase, staff, and operate two mobile clinics to serve the homeless population; provided that:

(1) The staff shall include, at minimum, one doctor, one nurse, one pharmacist, and one psychiatrist and may include staff as needed, including students pursing a degree in medicine or nursing; and

(2) The mobile clinics may provide, at minimum, the following services:

(A) Non-emergency medical services for chronic, acute, and episodic conditions;

(B) Sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis testing;

(D) Child and family services;

(E) Behavioral health and substance abuse services;

(F) Mental health services;

(G) Dental care;

(H) Referral services;

(I) Shower and laundry services;

(J) Clean clothing;

(K) Health insurance enrollment;

(L) Pharmacy services; and

(M) Other assistance services.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. The legislature finds that the need for specialty shelters has grown over the years as homelessness has evolved. Homeless persons have few options to receive home care, mental health stabilization, a recovery environment for substance use disorders, or other support when they leave an acute treatment environment. Specialty shelters double as housing navigation centers wherein staff will assist homeless persons to access housing after their stay at the shelter.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for specialty shelters to temporarily house and serve homeless persons.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,350,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to establish two substance abuse specialty shelters and one mental health specialty shelter to provide temporary housing and specialized homecare services for homeless individuals.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 5. The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to study the impact and feasibility of creating an integrated database with certain records of homeless individuals for providers of homeless services to track services and optimize costs.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the department of human services to conduct a study on the impact and feasibility of creating an integrated database for providers of homeless services that provides access to certain information about homeless individuals served, including police, medical, social services, and mental health records, to improve tracking services provided and optimize costs.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 7. (a) The department of human services shall establish puuhonua safe zones where homeless persons may reside in the State.

(b) The location of each puuhonua safe zone shall be designated by the land use commission.

(c) Each puuhonua safe zone shall be furnished with appropriate hygiene facilities and security and social services as deemed necessary.

(d) The peaceful consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons twenty-one years of age or older shall be permitted in puuhonua safe zones.

(e) Animal companions of homeless persons shall be permitted in puuhonua safe zones.

(f) The department of human services shall maintain and operate puuhonua safe zones until the legislature determines that homelessness is no longer a crisis in the State.

(g) The State shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, or death arising from or occurring in a puuhonua safe zone.

SECTION 8. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the establishment of puuhonua safe zones where homeless persons may reside in the State.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART V

SECTION 9. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for homeless outreach services.

SECTION 10. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the storage of homeless people's property.

SECTION 11. The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART VI

SECTION 12. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for outreach services to homeless persons with serious and persistent mental illness.

SECTION 13. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for outreach, counseling, and diversion services for unsheltered homeless persons experiencing substance abuse.

SECTION 14. The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

PART VII

SECTION 15. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to assist the highways division of the department of transportation to deal with homelessness-related issues pertaining to security, health, and safety.

The sums appropriated in this part shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this part.

PART VIII

SECTION 16. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1223
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII