HB150

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that neighborhoods across the State are experiencing an increase in the number of homeless individuals living in the streets and parks. The housing crisis is affecting many individuals and families across the State including seniors, those with disabilities, and the working poor. An estimated 21,890 units, 15,590 on Oahu alone, are projected to be needed for households with less than eighty per cent of median income. It is imperative that in the planning for housing and homeless services we not forget those with the lowest incomes in our State.

SECTION 2. Section 247-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§247-7 Disposition of taxes. All taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general fund of the State, to be used and expended for the purposes for which the general fund was created and exists by law; provided that of the taxes collected each fiscal year:

(1) Ten per cent shall be paid into the land conservation fund established pursuant to section 173A-5;

(2) [~~Thirty~~] sixty-five per cent shall be paid into the rental housing trust fund established by section 201G-432; and

(3) Twenty-five per cent shall be paid into the natural area reserve fund established by section 195-9; provided that the funds paid into the natural area reserve fund shall be annually disbursed by the department of land and natural resources in the following priority:

(A) To natural area partnership and forest stewardship programs after joint consultation with the forest stewardship committee and the natural area reserves system commission;

(B) Projects undertaken in accordance with watershed management plans pursuant to section 171-58 or watershed management plans negotiated with private landowners, and management of the natural area reserves system pursuant to section 195-3; and

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $60,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for deposit into the rental housing trust fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the rental housing trust fund the sum of $60,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the purposes of the rental housing trust fund under section 201H-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to repair and renovate state public housing.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to provide continual operating funds for outreach and supportive services to individuals and families who are homeless.

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to provide continual operating funds for emergency and transitional shelters to maintain and enhance support services for the homeless population located at homeless shelters.

SECTION 8. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to provide continual operational funds to provide matching funds for Shelter Plus Care grants.

SECTION 9. The sums appropriated in section 4 of this Act shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 10. The sums appropriated in sections 5 through 8 shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	150
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII