Removes the statutory limitation on the subsidy amount. Specifies the income limit for participation in the State Rent Supplement Program shall not exceed 60 percent of the area median income. (SB1854 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 201G-231, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§201G-231[]] Rent supplements. The corporation is authorized to make, and contract to make, annual payments to a "housing owner" on behalf of a "qualified tenant", as those terms are defined in this subpart, in such amounts and under such circumstances as are prescribed in or pursuant to this subpart. [No payment on behalf of a qualified tenant shall exceed a segregated amount of $160 a month.]"

SECTION 2. Section 201G-233, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§201G-233 Qualified tenant defined. As used in this subpart, the term "qualified tenant" means any single person or family, pursuant to criteria and procedures established by the corporation, that has been determined to have an income not exceeding the [very low] income limit as determined by the corporation pursuant to rules adopted by the corporation; provided that the qualified tenant's income shall not exceed sixty per cent of the area median income; and provided further that the qualified tenant's primary place of residence shall be in the State of Hawaii or that the qualified tenant intends to make the State of Hawaii the qualified tenant's primary place of residence. The terms "qualified tenant" and "tenant" include a member of a cooperative who satisfies the foregoing requirements and who, upon resale of the member's membership to the cooperative, will not be reimbursed for more than fifty per cent of any equity increment accumulated through payments under this subpart. With respect to members of a cooperative, the terms "rental" and "rental charges" mean the charges under the occupancy agreements between the members and the cooperative. [The term "qualified tenant" shall not include any person receiving money payments for public assistance from the department of human services; provided that the term "public assistance" shall exclude aid provided through the federal Supplemental Security Income Program.]"

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed

and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.