Establishes a program for low-interest loans and grants for home acquisition and rehabilitation for displaced pineapple plantation workers at Kunia and Poamoho, Oahu. Establishes a rental assistance program for rental of safe, decent, and sanitary units in the private market. Provides supportive services to prepare displaced workers for homeownership. (SB2773 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce will have a significant negative impact on pineapple workers. Housing ranks among their primary concerns. Currently, many employees, retirees, and their families live in plantation homes owned by the company at the Kunia and Poamoho camps. With the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce, many of these families face the possibility of losing their homes. Housing is a fundamental need, to which every person should have access.

With the loss of their jobs, many employees and retirees will undergo a transition period as they seek new employment, participate in job training programs, or seek other opportunities. While employee incomes may be greatly diminished, employees and retirees must continue to make their housing payments and meet other living expenses. Many former employees and retirees in transition may find it difficult to qualify for loans under conventional loan-writing standards.

The purpose of this Act is to assist Kunia and Poamoho pineapple workers and retirees in danger of losing their homes by:

PART I

SECTION 2. Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201H-A Kunia-Poamoho housing revolving fund; established. (a) There is established in the state treasury the Kunia-Poamoho housing revolving fund to provide low-interest loans or grants for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of existing homes in the Kunia and Poamoho camps by pineapple workers and retirees who are displaced by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and who have been denied loans from traditional financial institutions. The Kunia-Poamoho housing revolving fund shall be administered by the administration.

(d) The administration shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for deposit into the Kunia-Poamoho housing revolving fund established under section 201H-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide low-interest loans or grants for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of homes in the Kunia and Poamoho camps for pineapple workers or retirees displaced by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and to fund related activities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development administration for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 4. Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201H-B Kunia-Poamoho rental housing fund; established. (a) There is established in the state treasury the Kunia-Poamoho rental housing fund to make annual payments to a landlord to provide rent subsidies for eligible Del Monte pineapple workers and retirees and their families seeking safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private market. The Kunia-Poamoho rental housing fund shall be administered by the administration.

(b) Moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be deposited into the Kunia-Poamoho rental housing fund; provided that upon fulfillment of the purposes of this section, all unencumbered moneys shall lapse into the general fund. Guidelines shall be established by the administration with respect to eligible Del Monte pineapple workers and retirees and rental assistance payments under this section.

(c) The administration shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for deposit into the Kunia-Poamoho rental housing fund established under section 201H-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide rent subsidies for eligible Del Monte pineapple workers and retirees and their families seeking safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private market.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development administration for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 6. Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201H-C Kunia-Poamoho homeownership counseling program; established. (a) There is established within the administration the Kunia-Poamoho homeownership counseling program to provide displaced pineapple workers and retirees with homebuyer education and counseling.

(b) The administration may secure the services of a public or private entity to carry out the purposes of this section."

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to effectuate the Kunia-Poamoho homeownership counseling program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development administration for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 8. In codifying the new sections added by this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 9. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.