STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3337

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2429
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2429, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
     DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to expand the eligibility for
the state rent supplement program.

     The bill also authorizes the Housing and Community
Development Corporation of Hawaii to raise the contribution of a
tenant receiving rent supplement, up to thirty per cent of the
tenant's annual income.

     Your Committee finds that despite the present "buyer's
market" in the housing industry, the need for shelter is still a
constant concern for many island residents.  State sponsored rent
supplements for qualifying individuals have been very effective
in preventing homelessness for the poor, the elderly, and the
disabled.  Budget cuts, however, have severely reduced this
effectiveness and resulted in a waiting list for affordable,
subsidized housing.

     This bill expands the eligibility requirements for state
rent supplements to allow more people to qualify for assistance.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3337
                                   Page 2


     Your Committee has amended the bill by authorizing the
Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii to raise
a tenant's rent contribution up to a maximum of thirty per cent
of that tenant's income after conducting a public hearing.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2429, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2429,
H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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