Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1409 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the rights of all citizens by prohibiting landlords from discrimination against potential tenants based on source of income.

The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance; Catholic Charities Elderly Services; and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) and Hawaii Civil Rights Commission supported the intent of this measure.

Bill Ramsey, Inc.; Institute of Real Estate Management; Hawaii Association of Realtors; and a concerned individual opposed this measure. Homeless Solutions commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that individuals receiving Section 8 rental subsidies often have difficulty securing tenancy. While your Committee sympathizes with property management organizations and the procedures involved in relation to Section 8 vouchers, your Committee does not believe that individuals should be denied housing solely based upon the source of income or subsidy.

HCDCH has expressed interest in leading a group of interested organizations in determining a solution to meet everyone's satisfaction.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 1409, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1409, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.