STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1202
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: S.B. No. 1852
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
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 S.B. No. 1852, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOW INCOME HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to expeditiously make available low-income housing units by:
(1) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purpose of repairing and renovating vacant low-income housing units and constructing new low-income housing units; and
(2) Requiring the Housing and Community Development Corporation (HCDCH) to complete all repairs and renovations to vacant low-income housing units and construct new low-income housing units and make them available for rent by December 31, 2008.
Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Catholic Conference, a member of the Maui County Council, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services supported the intent of this measure. HCDCH and a concerned individual provided comments.
Your Committee finds that HCDCH has approximately 700 vacant low-income housing units, or slightly less then ten percent of its total number of units. Because the number of vacant units varies, the provisions of the measure that require repair on a staggered basis are difficult to comply with.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Removing the requirement that HCDCH complete all repairs and renovations to vacant low-income housing units and construct new low-income housing units by December 31, 2008;
(2) Requiring HCDCH to submit a five-year plan to the Legislature relating to repairs, renovations, and construction of low-income housing units no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006, and an annual report every year thereafter;
(3) Requiring HCDCH to add at least ten percent in additional units to its total housing supply to be available for rent no later than December 31, 2008, including units that are new, renovated, and dedicated to individuals using section 8 certificate vouchers; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.
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 S.B. No. 1852, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1852, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,
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____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair |