STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2683

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 Ways and Means, 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.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the recent explosion of housing sales in Hawaii has included the sale of many rental units.  The reduction in the number of rental units has not only increased rental rates, but has made it that much more difficult for low-income renters to find affordable housing.

This measure helps to address the current rental supply problem by providing renters on rental assistance with more time to find a qualified rental unit.

     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 S.B. No. 3172 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair