STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2184

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2497

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2497 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to establish a program to offer dwelling unit insurance policies to landlords who rent to tenants using the Section 8 housing choice voucher program;

(2) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the establishment of the program prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019; and

(3) Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to establish the program, including funds for positions to administer the program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority assists low-income families through the housing choice voucher program, also known as "Section 8". The Section 8 program is one of the federal government's major programs for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Due to the overwhelming need in the community to assist low-income families, this measure will assist future Section 8 participants by encouraging landlords to rent their dwelling units to Section 8 participants.

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 S.B. No. 2497 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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WILL ESPERO, Chair