Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 539 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish resident advisory boards composed of federal public housing residents or Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance recipients to assist and make recommendations to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH).

HCDCH, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, American Friends Service Committee Hawaii Area Program, and the Interim Resident Advisory Board testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the residents of federal public housing programs take an active interest in their living environment. Interim resident advisory boards in various housing developments have been in existence for several years and have been seeking recognition from HCDCH. These residents would like to play an active role in policy decisions and programs. They also seek reimbursement for some of their expenses.

HCDCH has expressed interest in collaborating with resident advisory boards on a permanent basis. Further, federal law requires that a resident advisory board be established to assist and make recommendations regarding the development of the Public Housing Agency Plan.

Your Committee has amended this bill by requiring HCDCH to adopt rules with regard to the establishment of resident advisory boards.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 539, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 539, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.