STAND. COM. REP. NO.  48-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 1712

      H.D. 1

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. 1712 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the minimum portion of residential units in condominiums required to be offered for sale to owner-occupants during the thirty-day period following the initial date of sale from fifty percent to ninety percent of all residential units.

The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that affordable housing is an important issue and that this bill addresses that issue by promoting owner-occupancy of the new condominium developments rather than sale to non-occupant investors.

     The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation noted the overall lack of affordable housing for Hawaii residents.  Your Committee noted that this measure only requires that units be initially offered to owner-occupants and does not require that a certain percentage of units be actually sold to owner-occupants.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1712, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1712, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair