STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2470

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3172

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 3172 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow qualified rental assistance applicants up to six months to find a qualified rental dwelling.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one private citizen.  Comments on this measure were submitted by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the current housing market in Hawaii makes it very difficult for individuals in low-income households to find affordable rental units within short time frames, and that this measure would give those individuals the breathing room to find suitable units.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3172 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair