STAND. COM. REP. NO.  114

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 926

      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 Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 926 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote the development of affordable housing through community land trusts (CLTs) by:

     (1)  Allowing CLTs to be eligible for land grants and state subsidies or funds;

     (2)  Defining "community land trust"; and

     (3)  Authorizing the Rental Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) to be used for CLT developments, including non-traditional structures such as plantation homes, eco-villages, trailer parks, and developments incorporating indigenous Hawaiian architecture.

     Na HALE O Maui and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying the definition of "community land trust" by referencing the definition of CLTs in the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act;

     (2)  Specifying that the RHTF funds for CLTs are for rental developments;

     (3)  Removing trailer parks as a type of development a CLT may develop using RHTF funds;

     (4)  Removing the requirement that the CLT must qualify for the expedited permitting process to qualify for RHTF funds; and

     (5)  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. 926, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 926, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair