STAND. COM. REP. NO.  379-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2845

      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. 2845 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill as received by the Committee is to authorize the police to enter and enforce laws in common areas of public housing projects.

     For purposes of receiving public input, your Committee made a proposed draft available prior to the hearing that replaces the contents with provisions that prohibit the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) from terminating the tenancy of both tenants after a divorce or legal separation, upon providing HPHA with legal documentation designating one of the tenants to remain in the public housing project or complex.

     A concerned individual testified in support of the proposed bill.  HPHA opposed the proposed measure.  A concerned individual provided comments on the proposed bill.

     Your Committee's intent is to clarify which of the tenants will be able to remain in the public housing project after a divorce, annulment, or legal separation when both people are on the lease.  It is not your Committee's intent to allow individuals to circumvent existing HPHA policies.

     Your Committee has amended this bill as received by inserting the contents of the proposed draft and also adding a provision that allows HPHA to accept a written agreement by the divorcing or separating tenants that specifies which individual will remain in the public housing complex.

     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. 2845, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2845, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair