STAND. COM. REP. NO. 36

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 82

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, 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:

     (1)  Authorize the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, lease, rent, hold, maintain, use, and operate certain properties;

     (2)  Authorize the Authority to receive all gifts; provided that they benefit public housing residents; provided further that the acceptance of gifts with an estimated value of $1,000 or more shall be approved or confirmed by the Board of Directors of the Authority;

     (3)  Authorize the Authority to use volunteer services; and

     (4)  Exempt the Authority from various state laws for the use of volunteer services.

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

     Your Committee finds that projects that assist the Hawaii Public Housing Authority in rehabilitating vacant units need physical labor, electrical wiring, and plumbing.  The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is lacking in these areas.

     Your Committee further finds that many volunteers come to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to improve their community by creating projects and rehabilitating vacant units.  These projects contribute to positive community relations as well as provide needed housing for individuals.

     However, your Committee finds that on many occasions, people and organizations have been turned away from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority due to conflicts with Hawaii's ethics and volunteer services laws.  Gifts, such as gallons of paint, maintenance equipment, and lumber, are items that would truly make a difference in the living environment for the tenants rather than personally benefit the Hawaii Public Housing Authority Board or staff.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 82 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair