STAND. COM. REP. NO.  838-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2511

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2511, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist lower-income individuals seeking rental housing by:

     (1)  Allowing an individual, who qualifies for a rent supplement, up to 90 days from the approval of the application to find a rental unit; and

     (2)  Requiring the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to give priority to rent supplement applicants who are homeless or living in transitional shelters.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  HPHA provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2511, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair