Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 167 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request that the University of Hawaii (UH) conduct a study to determine whether a state-mandated special assessment should be levied and collected against some portion of commercial and industrial lessors' windfall profits resulting from the reversion of improvements on their properties at the conclusion of ground leases. The assessment would be dedicated to the creation of state-sponsored affordable housing opportunities for the residents of Hawaii.

A concerned individual testified in support of this resolution. UH supported the intent of this measure. The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii opposed this measure.

UH suggested convening a meeting with various stakeholders and interested parties to discuss the issues raised in this resolution to help facilitate the purposes of this measure. Your Committees concur with this recommendation, as it is not the intent of this measure to adversely affect UH's budget, and believe that this measure could be an opportunity for graduate students to conduct a study and see the direct results of their work.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 167 and recommend its adoption.