Report Title:

Affordable Housing

Description:

Requires state and county agencies to give affordable housing projects priority in permit approval process.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	645
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the present lack of a supply of affordable housing is turning the State into one of "haves" and "have nots".  Desperately-needed affordable housing is a major problem this State is facing.  Another related problem this State is facing is the myriad and complex land use permit processes faced by any real estate development project.

     One of the purposes of this Act is to require all state and county agencies to give priority to affordable housing projects in the permit review and issuing process.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-   Affordable housing projects; priority. (a) Any permit application for a housing project that is certified to be an affordable housing project by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation or by any county agency that has been delegated or has assumed the powers under section 46‑15.1 shall be given the highest priority over any other projects, except for projects involving the public health and safety, by all county agencies reviewing and issuing any permits required by the affordable housing project.

(b)  For purposes of this section:

(1) "Affordable housing project" means any housing project that offers at least one-half of all housing units in the project to persons or families earning      per cent or less of the median family income for that area, as determined by the United States Department Housing and Urban Development; and

(2) "Permit" means but is not limited to a special area management permit, variance, conditional use permit, special permit, subdivision permit, grubbing and grading permit, building permit, water meter permit, or occupancy permit."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-   Affordable housing; priority. (a) Any permit application for a housing project that is certified to be an affordable housing project by the corporation or by any county agency that has been delegated or has assumed the powers under section 46‑15.1 shall be given the highest priority over any other projects, except for projects involving the public health and safety, by all state agencies reviewing and issuing any approvals or permits required by the affordable housing project.

(b)  For purposes of this section:

(1) "Affordable housing project" means any housing project that offers at least one-half of all housing units in the project to persons or families earning      per cent or less of the median family income for that area, as determined by the United States Department Housing and Urban Development; and

(2) "Approvals or permits" means but is not limited to a land use district boundary amendment, conservation district use permit, department of health certificates of need or necessity, wastewater facility approval, limited access highway or similar approval, or permit for the withdrawal, diversion, or consumptive use of water."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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