STAND. COM. REP. NO.  132

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 599

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 599 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide an incentive to attract and retain qualified teachers and other school staff members in Hawaii by establishing and appropriating funds for the Educators' Affordable Housing Program (Program) that shall offer a deferred-interest second mortgage to eligible individuals.

     Funds are also appropriated to manage teacher housing and for the repair and renovation of existing teacher housing units.

     The Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Education (DOE) and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Extending the Program to other educational staff of DOE;

     (2)  Requiring HHFDC, rather than DOE, to administer the            Program;

     (3)  Clarifying that management of existing teacher housing        is the responsibility of:

          (a)  HHFDC before July 1, 2008; and

          (b)  DOE beginning July 1, 2008;

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 599, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 599, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Human Services & Housing,

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair