Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1315 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to encourage the development of affordable rental housing units by, among other things:

The Governor, Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii, a member of the Maui County Council, City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc., Blueprint for Change, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Taxation, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of Realtors supported the intent of this measure. The Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation supported this measure with amendments. The Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, opposed this measure. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and Nature Conservancy of Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee recognizes that Hawaii is facing a rapidly growing homelessness problem. Measures need to be taken to keep people from becoming homeless by providing affordable housing to low-income and homeless individuals. This measure will provide incentives for the development of affordable housing.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1315 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.