HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2302
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that many public housing projects in the State are in poor condition.  During the 2010 federal inspections for housing projects last year, eleven out of the sixty-five federal housing projects failed to pass inspection, receiving a score of fifty-nine or below out of a possible one hundred.  Approximately one-third of the housing projects received a score of sixty-nine or below.  To address the host of problems plaguing public housing, the Hawaii public housing authority recently embarked on a major turnaround plan that involves revamping vacant units, streamlining how applications are processed, and encouraging a fast turnaround for filling vacancies.  In recent reports, as many as four hundred to six hundred units are not being rented due to uninhabitable conditions.  According to a 2003 assessment at Kuhio park terrace, the largest and one of the oldest public housing projects in Hawaii, the estimated capital improvement cost would be approximately $67,000,000.

     The legislature also finds that in addition to increasing problems in public housing, high unemployment in the construction and trade industry exacerbates economic problems for individuals that are within the low- to moderate-income population, which is commonly referred to as the "gap group", and includes individuals with gross incomes that fall between one hundred twenty-five per cent and two hundred fifty per cent of federal poverty guidelines.  This population is especially vulnerable to becoming homeless if adequate, habitable, and affordable housing is unavailable.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide funding to improve the public housing inventory in the State.

     SECTION 2.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2012-2013 to renovate public housing units that are uninhabitable.

     SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated under section 2 shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The appropriation made for capital improvement projects authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2014, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, capital improvement projects executed under this Act shall be exempt from the contest provisions of chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Public Housing Renovations; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates an unspecified dollar amount out of general obligation bonds to the Hawaii public housing authority for renovating uninhabitable public housing units.  Effective July 1, 2030.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.