Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2445 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand affordable housing opportunities for the elderly in public housing and state assisted private housing.

The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Catholic Charities Elderly Services testified in support of this measure.

Current HCDCH elder housing requirements establish the minimum age requirement for residents at sixty-two years. This requirement precludes the qualification of some couples where one person is at least sixty-two years old, but the person's spouse or partner is not. The restriction also affects a project owner's ability to fill vacancies.

This measure expands housing opportunities for elderly couples by defining an elderly household as one in which at least one member is sixty-two years old and remaining household members are at least fifty-five years old at the time of application for housing. This measure also authorizes the residency of a live-in aide in elderly housing, so long as the elder being assisted continues to reside in the housing project.

Your Committee has amended this measure by substantially replacing its contents with the language of a similar measure, S.B. No. 2703, S.D. 2, and by incorporating amendments proposed by HCDCH. As amended, this measure provides that an elderly household may include the elder's spouse or partner if the latter has reached the age of majority. The amended measure also reflects preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2445, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2445, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.