STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1724

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.C.R. No. 60

      S.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 Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 60, S.D. 2, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO INITIATE THE SPONSORSHIP PROCESS FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT "STEP-UP" PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NEW EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS AND OTHER LOW-INCOME PEOPLE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to initiate the sponsorship process for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development "Step-Up" program to provide new employment and training programs for public housing residents and other low-income people.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee finds that "Step-Up" is a national program developed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the United States Department of Labor and National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Offices to provide jobs and job training opportunities on Department of Housing and Urban Development assisted construction

to residents of public housing and other low-income people.  Public housing authorities are authorized to sponsor "Step Up"

programs, which entails organizing and administering all components of the program, and are encouraged to work with local training providers, such as non-profits, who know and administer workforce development and job training programs.

Your Committee further finds that "Step-Up" participants can earn wages that are excluded from income for rent determination purposes.  This measure will enable the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, through the "Step-Up" program, to provide real economic opportunities and upward wage earning potential, thus enabling participants to graduate from public housing to other permanent, unsubsidized housing options, which in turn frees up units for those on waiting lists.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 60, S.D. 2, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair