STAND. COM. REP. NO. 596

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1448

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1448 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's Board to set the salaries of the Executive Director and the Executive Assistant, subject to the approval of the Governor.

     The Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the Department of Human Resources Development, and the Hawaii Family Forum submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the current salary of the Executive Director, as established by statute, is not to exceed eighty-five per cent of the salary of the Director of Human Resources Development, and the salary of the Executive Assistant is not to exceed ninety per cent of the Executive Director's salary.  According to the Department of Human Services, a national survey of executive officer salary ranges for comparable public housing agencies shows that salaries in other jurisdictions are substantially higher than those currently allowed in this State.  This measure will make the positions more competitive and likely to be filled.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1448 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair