STAND. COM. REP. NO. 987

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1314

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1314, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an emergency home relocation special fund to provide infrastructure development, grants, and loans to assist persons dispossessed from their homes as a result of a natural disaster.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Hawaii Island Community Alliance Partners; Neighborhood Place of Puna; Hope Services Hawaii, Inc.; and five individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committees find that natural disasters, such as the ones that have recently impacted portions of Hawaii Island, can have a devastating effect on affected communities, particularly those who lose their homes.  This measure establishes an emergency home relocation special fund to provide infrastructure development, grants, and loans to assist persons displaced from their homes as a result of a natural disaster and will serve as an important future safety net for communities and families throughout the State.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1314, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair