STAND. COM. REP. NO.  531-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2762

      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 Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2762 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect victims of domestic violence by, among other things:

     (1)  Prohibiting a landlord from evicting a tenant, failing to renew a rental agreement with a tenant, or refusing to enter into a rental agreement with an individual on the basis that the person is a victim of domestic violence;

     (2)  Allowing a victim of domestic violence to terminate a rental agreement without penalty, upon meeting certain conditions;

     (3)  Requiring a landlord to change locks, at the tenant's expense, within three days of the tenant's request; and

     (4)  Allowing a landlord to request verification of a tenant's status as a victim of domestic violence.

     Hawaii Women Work!, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Na Loio, Domestic Violence Action Center, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Oahu Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, and a concerned individual provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that this measure is not intended to prohibit landlords from evicting tenants for reasons other than the person's status as a victim of domestic violence.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2762, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2762, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair