STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1399

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 560

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 560, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING URBAN GARDENING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Community Development Authority to encourage the development of housing projects that incorporate urban gardening programs.  

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Kohala Center-Hawaii Island School Garden Network and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that urban gardening programs will help to improve sustainability, increase food self-sufficiency, and provide those living in housing projects with life skills.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Codifying the enabling provisions of this measure in the respective chapters of the Hawaii Revised Statutes governing the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Community Development Authority; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure.

     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. 560, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 560, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair