STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3277

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2286

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2286, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make permanent the requirement that the counties issue affordable housing credits for each residential unit developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

     Specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Repeals the sunset date of Act 141, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009;

     (2)  Repeals the sunset date of Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012; and

     (3)  Amends the definition of "affordable housing obligation" by specifying that the term means certain development requirements imposed by a county, regardless of the date of its enactment.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Written comments in opposition were received from the Kauai County Housing Agency.

     Act 141, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, requires the counties to issue affordable housing credits to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, requires the counties to issue affordable housing credits for each residential unit developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Your Committee finds that making the provisions of Act 141 and Act 98 permanent will afford the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands greater opportunities to develop homesteads and, thus, meet its mission to return native Hawaiians to trust lands.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2286, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2286, H.D. 3, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair