STAND. COM. REP. NO. 946

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1354

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1354, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds to several state agencies for the purposes of improving and increasing the public and affordable housing stock in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS; Hawaii Catholic Conference; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; League of Women Voters; Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, Office for Social Ministry; Partners in Care; PHOCUSED; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that housing is a serious concern for many Hawaii residents.  Failure to produce sufficient units for low- and moderate-income households will cause pent-up demand in these market segments.  Furthermore, according to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority Annual Report For Fiscal Year 2013, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's public housing stock still has extensive and growing capital needs, currently estimated at $500,000,000, that continue to be underfunded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adding a definition for "micro apartment housing unit".

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1354, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1354, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair