STAND. COM. REP. NO. 455

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 254

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 254 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, in coordination with other state and county agencies, to develop lands within one mile of transit station sites and include affordable rental housing units in certain development plans.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and Office of Planning.

     Your Committees find that encouraging transit-oriented development projects will contribute to the overall success of the public transportation projects in the State and will vitalize urban areas.  Your Committees further find that incorporating safe, adequate, and affordable housing strengthens communities as affordable and stable housing is linked with improved health, education, and economic outcomes for families and children.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying the percentage of affordable rental units that must be built for residents or families at different income levels for each development project as follows:

          (A)  Ten percent for residents or families earning up to thirty percent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;

          (B)  Ten percent for residents or families earning up to sixty percent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;

          (C)  Ten percent for residents or families earning up to eighty percent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

          (D)  Ten percent for residents or families earning up to one hundred percent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;

     (2)  Removing the waiver option of the affordable housing requirements;

     (3)  Making conforming amendments; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 254, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 254, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Housing,

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair