STAND. COM. REP. NO.  101-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 1919

      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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1919 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require incorporation of housing visitability standards in the construction and renovation of publicly funded residential housing.

The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Center on Disabilities Studies of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported this measure.

     Your Committee notes that there may be unintended consequences in implementing this measure, including placing a financial burden and delays on the construction and operations of publicly funded residential housing.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Authorizing, rather than requiring, the incorporation of housing visitability standards in the construction and renovation of publicly funded residential housing;

     (2)  Clarifying that the provisions of this measure shall not place undue burdens and affect the operations of publicly funded residential housing; and

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1919, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1919, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair