STAND. COM. REP. NO. 933

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1395

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1395 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the state rent supplement program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that providing a rent subsidy to working individuals, senior or disabled individuals, and families who are homeless will increase housing stability for these vulnerable populations, which, in turn, will result in positive outcomes such as sustained employment, educational success, and improved health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 and $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1395, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1395, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair