Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the convening of an affordable housing task force.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH), County of Hawaii, County of Maui, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, Hawaii Association of Realtors, Institute of Real Estate Management, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Land Use Research Foundation, Honolulu Board of Realtors, Catholic Charities of Hawaii, and an individual.

Your Committees find that throughout the State, affordable housing units are in critical demand to meet the housing needs of local residents. Currently, some of the barriers preventing the construction and development of affordable units include lengthy zoning and permitting processes, high cost of land and building materials, and the need for new and affordable financing sources for both developers and buyers. This measure will provide for a task force that will research possible remedies to solve the affordable housing crisis.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by including language that acknowledges the discussions that the HCDCH has had considering this issue and encouraging them to continue the discussion. Your Committees also amended the measure by requiring that all of the above testifiers and the Mayors of each county receive a certified copy of this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 135, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 135, S.D. 1.