STAND. COM. REP. NO.  484-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2280

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2280 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the tenancy of tenants who are victims of domestic abuse by:

     (1)  Prohibiting landlords from terminating their tenancy or refusing to enter into rental agreements with them;

     (2)  Establishing penalties for landlords who so terminate such tenancies or refuse to enter into such rental agreements; and

     (3)  Establishing procedures to allow landlords to terminate or decline to renew a tenancy including cases where a perpetrator of domestic abuse visits the tenant's property or poses a threat to other people on the property.

Many concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Hawaii Association of REALTORS offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committees have noted that the Department of Human Services and the Attorney General did not provide testimony on the measure, and these two agencies will be sought for guidance on this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a provision that further clarifies that this measure does not prohibit landlords from terminating a lease or rental agreement for a lawful reason;

     (2)  Deleting the word "adverse" in the provision relating to housing decisions based upon other lawful factors; and

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion;

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2280, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2280, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing,

____________________________ RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair