STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1265

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1692

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to restrict an unspecified percentage of low-income housing leases to no more than five years, except for persons who are age fifty-five or older, persons with a physical or mental disability, or persons retired for medical reasons.

This measure also requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to review federal pilot programs on breaking the cycle of public housing and welfare and to report its findings to the Legislature prior to the 2010 regular session.

     Your Committee received five written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the lease restriction in this measure will not only reduce multigenerational low-income housing tenancy, but will also increase the supply of low income housing in the State.  Your Committee further finds that by breaking the cycle of public housing and welfare, this measure will encourage upward social mobility and promote economic independence by low-income housing tenants.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the five year restriction on the length of a lease to an unspecified period; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date of the measure to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion of the measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1692, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair