STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2699

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2998

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2998, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to improve the quality of existing public housing stock in the State.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and United Public Workers.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is the only statewide public housing agency of the State.  The Hawaii Public Housing Authority's aging housing stock continues to have an extensive capital need that is underfunded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Your Committee further finds that additional funding is needed to modernize, repair, and maintain the State's public housing stock.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount from $100,000,000 to $4,000,000.  Your Committee notes that the $4,000,000 figure is intended to be derived from the savings in S.B. No. 2844, which reappropriates moneys to the emergency and budget reserve fund.

     It should be noted that this measure serves as a vehicle to provide resources to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for its repair and maintenance needs, but that it does not preclude the Legislature from considering the appropriation of additional funds if they become available through the budget.

     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. 2998, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2998, S.D. 2.

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

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair