STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 99

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 99 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase access to housing by prohibiting any county from disqualifying a legal nonconforming dwelling unit from the housing choice voucher program if the unit meets zoning and building code requirements and other program standards such as health and safety standards.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ho'omana Pono, LLC and two concerned individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the State is in the midst of a low-income rental housing crisis due to the lack of available housing options.  It is therefore necessary to remove as many barriers to affordable housing as possible.  Your Committee finds that this measure will improve access to housing by limiting a county's ability to disqualify a legal nonconforming dwelling unit from the housing choice voucher program.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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. 99, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 99, S.D. 1.

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

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair