SB754.DOC

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	754
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to affordable housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 2008, the Urban Land Institute Hawaii published the results of a study on affordable housing in Hawaii. The data was not encouraging: in 2008, only four per cent of the population could afford to purchase a median priced home with one median salary and only twenty-four per cent could afford such a home with up to two median salaries. In an effort to bring reality to the numbers, the institute asked: How many nurses does it take to purchase a median priced home in Honolulu? 1.3. How many firefighters? 2.11. How many civil engineers does it take to rent a three bedroom dwelling in Honolulu? 1.31.

The legislature further finds that while these statistics may be recent, the problem of affordable housing in Hawaii is an old one. The problem is further complicated by a number of other factors, including the interdependency of federal, state, and county laws and regulations. Well-intended efforts to streamline a state procedure may have unintended consequences on a related county requirement. As a result, initiatives to fast track and increase the development of affordable housing often fall short.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the legislative reference bureau to review the state and county laws related to affordable housing, to identify strategies to strengthen Hawaii's housing laws.

SECTION 2. (a) The legislative reference bureau shall review the state and county laws related to affordable housing, in particular chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation; chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the Hawaii public housing authority; and chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to county organization and administration, to recommend strategies to strengthen Hawaii's housing laws, including:

(1) Identifying duplicative or overlapping provisions in current law that may hamper the increased development of affordable housing;

(2) Reviewing concerns raised regarding proposed amendments to Hawaii's housing laws that were intended to increase the development of affordable housing, which were introduced in the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions;

(3) Reviewing any recommendations made by any legislative task force, financial or management audit, or affordable housing study conducted within the last three years regarding proposed amendments to Hawaii's housing laws that were intended to increase the development of affordable housing; and

(4) Determining any other information that may be relevant during the course of the review.

(b) The legislative reference bureau shall seek input from as many stakeholders as possible, including government agencies responsible for affordable housing, housing developers, affordable housing advocates, economists, the financial industry, and others as may be required.

(c) The legislative reference bureau shall submit a report of its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________