STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3265

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 99

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 S.C.R. No. 99 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING DEVELOPERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLABORATE AND PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE HOUSING PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request various public and private entities to collaborate and produce a comprehensive statewide housing plan to address the housing shortage identified by the 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study.

     The measure also requests the:

     (1)  Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the counties, other government entities, private sector housing developers, and community organizations to brief the Legislature of their progress in June 2014 and January 2015; and

     (2)  Senate Committee on Human Services; the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing; the House of Representatives Committee on Housing; and any other legislative standing committees to host informational briefings in June 2014 and January 2015 to provide the public the opportunity to hear about the ongoing plans for housing development in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  The Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii submitted written comments.

     According to the 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study, as many as fifty thousand new housing units need to be built by 2016 to meet the new demand generated by changing demographics and economic conditions.  Your Committee finds that addressing Hawaii's housing needs will be a challenge due to the number of units needed to meet demand and the various barriers that can prevent development and preservation of needed affordable housing.  Your Committee believes that this measure will facilitate a coordinated effort between government agencies, the private sector, and community organizations to make substantial and effective progress toward addressing Hawaii's housing crisis.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 99 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair