STAND. COM. REP. NO. 486-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1529

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1529, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit housing discrimination against veterans that use housing assistance vouchers issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, State Office of Veterans Services, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this measure. The Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS opposed this measure. The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that status as a veteran is not a protected class under the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Your Committee notes the oral testimony of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission that, in general, the federal government makes timely and reliable payments to landlords on behalf of the HUD-VASH voucher holders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1529, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1529, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair