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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2277 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to make the administration of housing projects by the Hawaii public housing authority more efficient by removing most procedural requirements preliminary to hearings for evictions of public housing project tenants and instead requiring the Hawaii public housing authority to submit written notice to delinquent tenants in accordance with federal law.
SECTION 2. Section 356D-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§356D-92 Termination and eviction. (a) Except as otherwise provided, the authority may terminate any lease, rental agreement, permit, or license covering the use and occupation of any dwelling unit or other premises located within a public housing project and evict from any premises any tenant, licensee, or other occupant for any of the following reasons:
(1) Failure to pay rent when due;
(2) Violation of any of the provisions of a lease, rental agreement, permit, or license;
(3) Violation of any of the rules of the authority;
(4) Failure to maintain the dwelling unit in a clean, sanitary, and habitable condition; or
(5) The existence of any other circumstances giving rise to an immediate right to possession by the authority.
(b) When any tenant has been delinquent in
payment of rent, the authority, either directly or through its managing agent,
shall provide the tenant with a written notice [no later than forty-five
days from the date of delinquency] in accordance with requirements
imposed under federal law that shall inform the tenant of the delinquency [and
schedule a meeting between the tenant and the authority or its agent. The
written notice shall:
(1) Inform the tenant that continued
delinquency shall result in the tenant's eviction;
(2) Inform the tenant of the tenant's right
to apply for an interim adjustment in rent;
(3) Explain to the tenant the steps of the
grievance and eviction processes and how the processes protect the tenant;
(4) Provide the tenant with a sample letter
for demanding a grievance hearing;
(5) Set forth the location, date, and time,
which shall be no earlier than fourteen days from the date of the written
notice, at which the tenant may meet with the authority or its agent to discuss
the delinquency in rent; and
(6) Inform the tenant that the tenant shall
either attend the meeting or, if applicable, contact the authority or the
authority's agent before the meeting time to reschedule the meeting.
(c) At the meeting described in subsection
(b), the authority or its agent shall:
(1) Inquire into the cause of the tenant's
delinquency and offer suggestions, if any, that the authority may feel
appropriate to address the causes of delinquency;
(2) Consider whether a reasonable payment
plan is appropriate for the tenant's situation and, if appropriate, offer a
payment plan to the tenant; and
(3) Inform the tenant of and explain the
issues as required under subsection (b)(1), (2), and (3).
(d) The authority shall develop a checklist
outlining all of the requirements listed in subsection (c). The authority or
its agent and the tenant shall complete, sign, and date the checklist to
memorialize the meeting.
(e) If the tenant fails to attend or
reschedule the meeting provided for in subsection (b), the authority shall
provide the tenant with a second written notice. The notice shall inform the
tenant that:
(1) The authority shall proceed to
terminate the tenant's tenancy because of the tenant's outstanding rent
delinquency and the tenant's failure to respond to the authority's written
notice issued pursuant to subsection (b);
(2) The tenant has ten business days from
receipt of the second written notice to request a grievance hearing; and
(3) If the tenant fails to request a
grievance hearing within ten business days, the authority has the right to
proceed with the eviction hearing pursuant to section 356D-93.
(f) If the
tenant meets with the authority as provided for in subsection (b), the
authority shall decide, based upon the facts discussed at the meeting, what
action is appropriate to address the tenant’s case. The authority shall notify
the tenant of its decision in writing. If the authority decides to proceed
with an action to terminate the tenancy, the authority shall further inform the
tenant in the same written notice that:]; provided that:
(1) The tenant has ten business days from receipt of [this]
the notice to request a grievance hearing; and
(2) If the tenant fails to request a grievance hearing within ten business days, the authority has the right to proceed with the eviction hearing pursuant to section 356D-93."
SECTION 3. Section 356D-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
"(b) [Hearings] For public
housing projects as defined in section 356D-91, hearings shall be conducted
by [an eviction board] a hearings officer appointed by the
authority. [The eviction board shall consist of not fewer than three
persons, of which one member shall be a tenant. At least one eviction board
shall be established in] There shall be at least one hearings officer for
each county of the State. The findings, conclusions, decision, and order of
the [eviction board] hearings officer shall be final unless an
appeal is [taken as hereinafter provided.] made pursuant to section
356D-97.
(c) The [eviction board] hearings
officer shall have the same powers [respecting] with respect to
administering oaths, compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production
of documentary evidence, and examining witnesses, as are possessed by circuit
courts. In case of disobedience by any person of any order of the [eviction
board] hearings officer, or of any subpoena issued by the eviction
board, or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which
the witness may lawfully be questioned, any circuit judge, on application by
the [eviction board] hearings officer, shall compel obedience as
in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued by a
circuit court, or a refusal to testify therein."
SECTION 4. Section 356D-94, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"[§356D-94] Eviction. (a)
If it is proven to the satisfaction of the [eviction board] hearings
officer that there is cause to terminate a lease or rental agreement and
evict the tenant, the authority shall provide the tenant with a written notice
of the authority's decision to terminate the tenancy. The notice shall inform
the tenant that a writ of possession may be issued by the authority within ten
business days. The notice shall also inform the tenant whether the grounds for
eviction are considered curable and, if so, what the tenant must do to remedy
the grounds, by when it must be done, and what the tenant must do to document
for the authority that the grounds have been remedied."
SECTION 5. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2099.
Report Title:
Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Hearings
Description:
Removes most procedural requirements preliminary to hearings for evictions of tenants of public housing projects and requires instead the Hawaii public housing authority to submit written notice, in accordance with federal law, to delinquent tenants. Requires that for federal low-income housing, hearings be conducted by a hearings officer. Effective July 1, 2099. (SB2277 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.