SB 3276: OHHS; DHS; UH; Coordinator on Homelessness; Ohana Zones Program; Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program; Survey; Homelessness; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

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

PART I

     SECTION 1.  The statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions shall develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five per cent by January 1, 2028, using the 2026 point-in-time count as the baseline for measuring progress.  Any funding requests by the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions after fiscal year 2026-2027 shall be based on the plan.

PART II

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-381.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§346-381.5  Coordinator on homelessness.  The governor shall appoint the coordinator on homelessness, subject to the advice and consent of the senate, for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter without regard to chapter 76."

PART III

     SECTION 3.  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 2026-2027 for the department of human services to continue administering the ohana zones program, including for the homeless outreach and navigation for unsheltered persons program.

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

     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 2026-2027 for the expenses of the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions.

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

     SECTION 5.  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 2026-2027 for the university of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive survey on the statewide status of homelessness.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

OHHS; DHS; UH; Coordinator on Homelessness; Ohana Zones Program; Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program; Survey; Homelessness; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five per cent by 1/1/2028, measured against the 2026 point-in-time count.  Requires any funding request by the Office after fiscal year 2026-2027 to be based on the plan.  Requires the appointment of the Coordinator on Homelessness to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.  Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the funding of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.  Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

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

     SECTION 1.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $8,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of human services to continue administering the ohana zones program to be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $5,000,000 for a medical respite program in Honolulu; and

     (2)  $3,000,000 for the homeless outreach and navigation for unsheltered persons program.

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

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $308,960 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the expenses of the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions.

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

     SECTION 3.  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 2026-2027 for the university of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive survey on the statewide status of homelessness.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

DHS; UH; OHHS; Ohana Zones Program; Medical Respite Program; Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program; Survey; Homelessness; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the funding of a medical respite program in Honolulu and the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions.  Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2639

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 3276

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3276 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the:

     (1)  Department of Human Services for the funding of a medical respite program in Honolulu and the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions; and

     (2)  University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

     Your Committee finds that it is crucial to support critical programs for unsheltered individuals in the State and provide for the administrative expenses required to manage these programs.  Your Committee further finds that it is equally important to have a truly comprehensive analysis of the statewide status of homelessness.  This measure makes a prudent investment in sustaining essential services for unsheltered individuals while strengthening the State's capacity to assess and respond to homelessness statewide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language to require the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five percent by January 1, 2028, measured against the 2026 point-in-time count;

     (2)  Inserting language requiring that any funding request by the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions after fiscal year 2026-2027 be based on the plan developed by the Office;

     (3)  Inserting language to require the appointment of the Coordinator on Homelessness to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate;

     (4)  Changing the appropriation amount for the Department of Human Services to continue administering the Ohana Zones Program from $8,000,000, including the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program, to an unspecified amount, to facilitate further discussion on the measure;

     (5)  Deleting language that would have allocated $5,000,000 of the $8,000,000 appropriation for a medical respite program in Honolulu under the Ohana Zones Program;

     (6)  Deleting language that would have allocated $3,000,000 of the $8,000,000 appropriation for the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program;

     (7)  Changing the appropriation amount for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions from $308,960 to an unspecified amount, to facilitate further discussion on the measure;

     (8)  Changing the appropriation amount for the University of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive survey on the statewide status of homelessness from $250,000 to an unspecified amount, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (9)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3276, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3276, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,