STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1409

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 287

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 287, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANT AND ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the potential hazards associated with vacant and abandoned residential properties by:

(1) Requiring each county to establish an expedited procedure for approvals of demolition permits for vacant residential properties; and

(2) Allowing the Department of Taxation to seek the nonjudicial foreclosure sale of vacant and abandoned residential property with an outstanding recorded state tax lien.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation.

Your Committee finds that abandoned residential properties can impose significant costs on the community and become public safety hazards and magnets for criminal activity. Your Committee further finds that it is in the public interest to encourage the use of residential properties and reduce the number of vacant and abandoned homes in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the term "state tax collector" with references to the Department of Taxation; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 287, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 287, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair