STAND. COM. REP. NO. 568

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 82

       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 S.B. No. 82 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the powers of and authorize the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (Authority) to receive all gifts that benefit public housing residents.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Authorizes the Authority to sell, lease, rent, hold, maintain, use, and operate any property in support of its purposes, power, and programs;

(2)  Requires that the acceptance of gifts valued over $1,000 be approved or confirmed by the Authority's board of directors; and

(3)  Exempts the Authority from the requirements of chapters 76, 89, 90, 103, and 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, regarding the use of volunteer services.

     Your Committee finds that authorizing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to accept gifts that benefit the residents served by the Authority will enhance living conditions for the residents and improve the quality of the living units.  Your Committee also finds that the exemption from the laws that govern the use of volunteers will allow the Authority more flexibility in recruiting and retaining volunteers for community development projects.  Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure will improve the community and help rehabilitate public housing units.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the issue.

     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 S.B. No. 82, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 82, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair