STAND. COM. REP. NO.  593

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 518

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 518, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $1,500,000 for the Rent Supplement Program for working individuals or families who are ready to rent permanent housing to obtain and maintain permanent housing.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority and one individual submitted written comments in support of this measure.  One individual submitted written testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and Partners in Care submitted written comments.

     Your Committee finds that many hardworking individuals and families remain in transitional housing programs because they cannot afford permanent, market-level housing.  Providing a rent supplement would allow these individuals and families to transition from these temporary shelters to permanent housing.  Moreover, your Committee finds that this approach would, in turn, provide housing opportunities to those individuals and families awaiting intake into transitional shelters.

     Your Committee further finds that this measure prohibits any individual or family who receives public assistance or other government benefits or entitlements from receiving moneys appropriated by the measure.  This prohibition would exclude individuals or families who receive assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or federal disability benefits.  Your Committee finds that low income individuals and families who would otherwise qualify for funds under this measure may also require assistance from other programs to achieve a minimal standard of living in Hawaii.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating an unspecified sum for the Rent Supplement Program for homeless working individuals or families who are ready to rent permanent housing to obtain and maintain permanent housing;

     (2)  Deleting the provision that prohibits any individual or family who receives public assistance or other government benefits or entitlements from receiving money appropriated by this measure and instead specifying that the rent supplement shall be available via participation in a workforce development or similar program;

     (3)  Capping the rent supplement at $300 after households pay a minimum per cent of adjusted income for rent;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate further discussion on the issue; and

     (5)  Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 518, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 518, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair