STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1203

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1854

S.D. 1

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. 1854, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to adjust the cap on the rent supplement payment from $160 per month to an unspecified amount that may be made by the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) to a housing owner on behalf of a qualified tenant.

The Hawaii Catholic Conference, Partners in Care, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. HCDCH supported the intent of this measure. Catholic Charities Hawaii and a concerned individual supported this bill with an amendment.

Your Committee notes that the intent of this measure is to increase the monthly rent supplement payments to further assist individuals to find a safe and healthy living environment in the private marketplace.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Removing the stipulation that rent supplement payments cannot exceed a segregated amount of $160 a month;

(2) Specifying that the income limit for participation in the State Rent Supplement Program shall not exceed 60 percent of the area median income;

(3) Removing the provision that disallowed individuals receiving public assistance, except for federal Supplemental Security Income Program, from receiving state rent supplements; 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. 1854, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1854, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

		____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair