STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3374

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 3140

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 3140, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency general fund appropriation to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for fiscal year 2007-2008.

     Specifically, the emergency appropriation would be used to repay the Department of Budget and Finance for a loan to pay for liability insurance and payroll costs and to address budget deficits for certain public housing programs.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the availability of affordable housing for Hawaii residents should not be stymied by the funding issues that this measure addresses.  Your Committee further finds that new leadership at the Hawaii Public Housing Authority has demonstrated its commitment to making important changes at the agency, including returning the agency to firm fiscal footing, improving staff morale, improving tenant relations, and improving and expanding the public housing inventory.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Lowering the amount of the emergency appropriation based upon the Housing Authority's updated financial data, which includes increased rental income and a higher federal operating subsidy;

     (2)  Including greater detail about the planned allocations for the emergency appropriation; and

     (3)  Making conforming amendments to delete references to programs for which funding is not allocated.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3140, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3140, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair