STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1269

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1925

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 1925, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a process by which developers of residential communities may elect to develop sustainable communities in the State.  This measure also provides incentives for developers to develop sustainable communities.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, PAHIO Development, Inc., and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO testified in support of this bill.  The Office of Planning and Hawaii Association of REALTORS supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Life of the Land opposed this bill.  The Department of Health, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance provided comments.

     Your Committee recognizes the concerns of those who opposed this measure, including the additional responsibilities and cost implications for DBEDT and possible conflicts with DOH's existing solid waste processes.  The Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club and

Life of the Land also expressed concerns regarding the automatic approval of permits and that specific details need to be provided with regard to affordable housing units.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that affordable housing units be owner-occupied;

     (2)  Specifying that affordable housing units be affordable to households at or below 140 percent of the area median income;

     (3)  Adding an appropriation to DBEDT for purposes of this measure; and

     (4)  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 S.B. No. 1925, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1925, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair