H.B. 1796 Summary

• Extends the Ohana Zones Pilot Program from its June 30, 2023 expiration date to June 30, 2026 to continue addressing homelessness through permanent housing placement, housing expansion, and housing preservation.

• Appropriates $15,000,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2022-2023 to fund facility construction, service provision, staffing, and administrative costs for the pilot program.

• Modifies regulatory exemptions for ohana zone contracts to include 21 specific statutes and chapters, allowing expedited action on permitting, procurement, environmental review, and other requirements during the pilot period.

• Requires providers to submit expenditure reports to the governor's coordinator on homelessness, with consolidated reports to the legislature before sessions in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, including program milestones, outcome evaluations, and homelessness impact assessments.

• Gives preference to Medicaid-qualified providers for contracted services and allows non-qualified providers up to one year after contract award to become Medicaid-qualified.