STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3015

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2735

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2735, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the contract hiring of at least three full‑time security guards, police officers, or public safety officers with police powers at Mayor Wright Homes public housing complex, and to require a report to the Legislature on the progress of security improvements at Mayor Wright Homes.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one private citizen.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by one private citizen.

     Your Committee finds that the residents of public housing projects have valid security concerns and that more must be done to ensure that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is placing the highest possible priority on their safety and welfare. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the specific number of security positions;

     (2)  Changing the focus of the measure from Mayor Wright Homes to public housing projects generally;

     (3)  Changing the description of the security positions to "security guards and state or county law enforcement officers"; and

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2008.

     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 H.B. No. 2735, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2735, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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