HI SB964

Changes partitioned shelter space requirement from mandatory ("shall") to discretionary ("may"), allowing the Department of Human Services to determine which emergency shelters require partitions based on departmental guidelines.

Extends the compliance deadline for Act 234 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2016) by one year, moving the effective date from July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018 for contracts between the Department of Human Services and shelter provider agencies.

Allows the Department of Human Services to determine minimum partition area, height, and storage specifications among different emergency shelters based on capacity and number of residents served.

Acknowledges significant variation between rural and urban homeless shelters and aims to prevent reduction in shelter space capacity that could result from strict implementation of the original Act 234 requirements.

Maintains that the Department of Human Services shall work with provider agencies beginning July 1, 2016 to implement the amended requirements.