STAND. COM. REP. NO.  146-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2526

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Housing and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2526 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to remove barriers to the building of more affordable housing by implementing the recommendations of the statewide task force convened to carry out the mission of the National Call to Action for Affordable Housing Through Regulatory Reform.  Specifically, this bill requires state and county agencies to issue ministerial permits for approved affordable housing projects within 45 days from the date the permit application was accepted.

     The Office of the Governor; Hawaiian Homes Commission; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; and Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting opposed this bill.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2526 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ RIDA CABANILLA, Chair