Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 639, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the administration of the teachers' housing program from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (Corporation) to the Department of Education (Department).

Specifically, the bill requires the Department to report to the Legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the 2006 regular session regarding the feasibility of transferring the teachers' housing program from the Corporation to the Department. The actual date of the transfer is July 1, 2007. The bill also provides for the establishment of a teachers' housing revolving fund, an annual review of housing units, annual statements, and the adoption of rules by the Department to administer the program.

Your Committee finds that the teachers' housing program provides rental housing units for teachers or other certified school-level personnel in rural isolated areas. The housing program provides safe and decent accommodations for teachers who might not have otherwise accepted the positions. Your Committee further finds that both the Corporation and the Department agree that the Department is better suited, with respect to teachers and their housing needs, to administer this program.

Your Committee has amended the bill by:

(3) Making technical amendments for style and clarity.

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 S.B. No. 639, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 639, S.D. 2.