STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1241

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 14

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 14 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO CONSIDER PROVIDING INCENTIVES, SUCH AS WAIVING INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY COSTS AND PERMITTING FEES, FOR DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP HOUSING FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING LESS THAN EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the counties to consider providing incentives, such as waiving infrastructure capacity costs and permitting fees, for developers to develop housing for households earning less than eighty percent of the area median income.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, FACE, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the lack of affordable housing across the State is a serious issue that threatens the public's health, safety, and well-being.  The cost of housing across the State has made it nearly impossible for most families to afford to buy or rent housing.  Therefore, it is essential to implement policies that encourage developers to develop affordable housing.  Accordingly, each of the county councils is encouraged to provide incentives, such as waiving infrastructure capacity costs and permitting fees, for developers to develop housing for households earning less than eighty percent of the area median income.  The county councils are further encouraged to develop a sliding scale of incentives based on the affordability of housing units in a development and consider how such a sliding scale may encourage developers to develop more affordable housing for households earning below eighty percent and up to one hundred forty percent of the area median income.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 14 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair