STAND. COM. REP. NO. 775

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1917

       S.D. 3

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 S.B. No. 1917, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand housing options for Hawaii residents by:

     (1)  Extending the sunset date for the allocation of conveyance tax revenues to the Rental Housing Trust Fund;

     (2)  Requiring the Hawaii Finance And Development Corporation to create an affordable housing inventory registry; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for various homeless and housing programs and projects.

     The Department of Taxation, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Catholic Charities of Hawai‘i, Partners in Care, and one individual provided written comments in support of this measure.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted written comments.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would provide a multi‑faceted approach to developing additional affordable housing options for Hawaii residents, many of whom face evictions and homelessness in the face of escalating housing prices throughout the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an unspecified percentage for the portion of conveyance tax revenues to be paid into the Rental Housing Trust Fund;

     (2)  Clarifying the effective dates of the Act; and

     (3)  Making technical amendments for clarity and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 1917, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1917, S.D. 3.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair