STAND. COM. REP. NO.  166

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 236

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 236 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help people achieve homeownership by appropriating $700,000 in each year of the 2007-2009 biennium to Hawaii Habitat for Humanity to fund the building of homes, capacity building for Habitat affiliates, and administrative costs.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Habitat for Humanity Kona, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Amending a previous appropriation to the Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association to allow funds to be used for a broader scope of homes;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation to $1,450,000 in the 2007-2008 fiscal year and $1,950,000 in the 2008-2009 fiscal year; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 236, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 236, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair