STAND. COM. REP. NO. 115

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 755

       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 S.B. No. 755 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii Community Development Authority to process an application for subdivision and consolidation of land for a planned development project with at least twenty per cent of the total number of dwelling units in the project reserved for sale or rental to qualified persons as determined by the Authority.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency and two private organizations.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one county agency.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that this measure is one of many under consideration by the Legislature in response to severe shortages of affordable housing in Hawaii.  Your Committee is concerned that a long-term economic crisis will further worsen what is already a challenging housing market for Hawaii residents, and that all alternatives should be considered.

     Your Committee believes that the amendments made to this measure strengthen the State's commitment to increasing affordable housing development in Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to:

     (1)  Authorize the Hawaii Community Development Authority to process an application for subdivision and consolidation of land for a planned development project:

          (A)  On a development lot between 20,000 and 80,000 square feet with at least twenty per cent of the total number of dwelling units in the project reserved for sale or rental to qualified persons as determined by the Authority; and

          (B)  On a development lot greater than 80,000 square feet with at least twenty-five per cent of the total number of dwelling units in the project reserved for sale or rental to qualified persons as determined by the Authority; and

     (2)  Clarify that the measure does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     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 S.B. No. 755, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair