STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1084

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 543

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 543, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to immediately initiate negotiations to acquire the leasehold and fee interests in the Front Street Apartments project, or exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire the interests if an agreement cannot be reached within a reasonable time;

(2) Appropriate an unspecified amount to acquire the leasehold and fee interests in the Front Street Apartments project; and

(3) Extend the date by which the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation must complete the construction of the Leialii affordable housing project in Lahaina, Maui.

The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Mayor of the County of Maui, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and several individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. Front Street Affordable Housing Partners provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 543, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair