STAND. COM. REP. NO.  414-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2238

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2238 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the availability of affordable housing in the state by requiring the public housing projects of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA), and any public housing project constructed or managed with State or county funds, to remain affordable in perpetuity.

     HPHA offered comments on this bill.

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of preserving State-subsidized housing for those families who have no other housing options.  Your Committee notes that although HPHA is planning for the sale of its non-public housing inventory at Wilikina Apartments in Wahiawa and Banyan Street Manoa in Palama, the inventory will be sold to nonprofit organizations that will continue to provide the units as affordable units.  HPHA is also planning to redevelop public housing to include affordable and market units, which housing authorities around the nation have done, but intends to maintain the current number of public housing units.  As such, your Committee notes that HPHA requests that the provisions of this bill do not affect these plans.

     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. 2238 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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