STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3432

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2359

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2359, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit public access to areas within a housing project under the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority where signs are displayed that require specific compliance; and

(2) Amend the offense of criminal trespass in the second degree to clarify the circumstances under which a person commits the offense by entering or remaining unlawfully in or upon any area of a housing project that is closed to the public.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and Police Department of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that one of the greatest concerns and priorities of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is the safety and well-being of its tenants and staff. However, there have been a number of incidents occurring on housing project properties due to the presence of uninvited individuals, including unauthorized individuals entering onto public housing property and setting up tents in the middle of the property or causing property damage, or evicted tenants returning to the property to harass or intimidate their former neighbors. These acts create conflict among the tenants as well as staff. Accordingly, this measure provides the Hawaii Public Housing Authority with a tool to address and resolve these matters.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2359, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2359, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Judiciary,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair