SB 1007: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to homelessness.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XVIII, subpart B, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-     Interstate collaboration on homelessness.  (a)  The office shall establish the interstate collaboration on homelessness and invite all other states to participate.

     (b)  The interstate collaboration on homelessness shall promote:

     (1)  Cooperation among states to address homelessness through equitable and humane practices; and

     (2)  Efforts to discourage government entities from relocating homeless individuals to another state without first establishing that the individual has a home and support system in the destination state.

     (c)  As part of the interstate collaboration on homelessness or separately with individual states, the office may enter into formal agreements with other states:

     (1)  To reimburse the costs incurred by other states associated with homeless individuals from Hawaii relocating to those states;

     (2)  For other states to reimburse the costs incurred by Hawaii for homeless individuals from those states relocating to Hawaii;

     (3)  For mutually agreed upon ethical practices for the treatment of homeless individuals;

     (4)  For a framework of shared responsibility to address homelessness; and

     (5)  To allow Hawaii to pursue legal action against another state for violation of the formal agreement.

     (d)  The office may adopt rules under chapter 91 for purposes of this section.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section, "state" includes a territory of the United States."

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-386, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§346-386[]]  Statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions; establishment.  There is established within the department of human services, for administrative purposes only, the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions that shall:

     (1)  Work with state, county, and community agencies in this State and in other states as required under  section 346-    to develop solutions to prevent and end homelessness in the State through transitional and permanent housing and supportive or assisted services, or both; and

     (2)  Develop and test innovative solutions to prevent and end homelessness in the State."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-389, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§346-389[]]  Annual report.  The coordinator shall submit an annual progress report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.  The report shall include:

     (1)  Performance metrics relating to reducing the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the State;

     (2)  Performance metrics relating to housing and services inventory gaps, including but not limited to the number of persons experiencing homelessness served and placed into permanent housing and the cost per person served; [and]

     (3)  Performance metrics to evaluate the State's performance on homeless services, housing, care coordination, and other needed services to end homelessness in the State[.]; and

     (4)  The efforts to increase the number of states participating in the interstate collaboration on homelessness, and a summary of any formal agreements entered into under section 346-    ."

     SECTION 4.  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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the interstate collaboration on homelessness.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness; Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish the Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness to discourage sending unsupported homeless individuals to other states and territories.  Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to enter into formal agreements with other states to reimburse costs associated with relocated homeless individuals.  Appropriates funds.

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