STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3106

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2748

H.D. 2

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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2748, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to conduct a study on the current and future demand and supply of affordable housing suitable for individuals with special needs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Your Committees find that many individuals with access and functional needs face significant obstacles in obtaining suitable, long-term, affordable housing due to their low incomes and their need for easily accessible supportive services. Many housing options suitable for individuals with access and functional needs are only temporary, which impedes their ability to live independently for a significant period of time. By requiring the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to conduct a study, this measure will enable the State to gather data and formulate strategies to provide additional suitable affordable housing options for individuals with access and functional needs.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adopting the language suggested by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities that:

(A) Replaces references to "individuals with special needs" to "individuals with access and functional needs"; and

(B) Clarifies that the study will focus on the housing waitlists in the State and in each county in order to identify the current and future demand and supply of affordable housing suitable for individuals with access and functional needs; and

(2) 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2748, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2748, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair