STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1677

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1001

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1001, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide an expedited process to develop affordable housing projects in the State.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Housing Hawaii, Partners in Care, and seventy-one concerned citizens.  The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and a concerned citizen submitted comments on this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting submitted comments in opposition to the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the shortage of affordable housing continues to manifest itself in an ever-growing homeless population and multiple families occupying a residence intended for a single family.  Additionally, homeless shelters report many families and single persons would not be homeless if more affordable housing units were available.

     This measure addresses the urgency of the lack of affordable housing in the State by providing an expedited process to build more affordable housing projects.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Amending the definition of "eligible project" to require the number of units in a project to be no more than allowed by applicable zoning laws;

     (2)  Amending the definition of "rental unit" to allow for multiple exclusions to the definition for projects with more than one resident manager or caretaker;

     (3)  Deleting a duplicative provision regarding special management area and shoreline setback requirements; and

     (4)  Making technical amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1001, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1001, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair