STAND. COM. REP. NO. 932

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1692

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to restrict state low-income housing leases, in certain cases, to no more than five years.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two government agencies and nine individuals.  Five private organizations submitted testimony in opposition.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the inventory of public housing has not been able to keep up with demand, and that this measure would provide one means of ensuring greater turnover in public housing dwelling units.  Your Committee also recognizes that simply restricting the amount of time that any person may rent or lease a public housing dwelling unit will not resolve the cycle of poverty unless the tenants have access to programs of homeownership counseling, financial literacy, and employment training.

     Your Committee further understands that the federal government has initiated pilot programs to address the cycle of public housing and poverty.

     Your Committee has amended this measure accordingly, by:

     (1)  Restricting an unspecified percentage of state low-income housing leases, in certain cases, to no more than five years;

     (2)  Requiring the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to review federal pilot programs intended to break the cycle of public housing and welfare, including related support programs, and to report to the 2010 Legislature; and

     (3)  Amending the purpose section to reflect these changes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Housing,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair