STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1181

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 517

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. 517 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require each county to prepare a housing supply plan regarding projected increases in the housing supply to meet housing demands in the State among persons of all income levels.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

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

Your Committee recognizes that there is a shortage of housing in Hawaii that is affordable to lower-income individuals and families. Your Committee therefore believes that it is appropriate for the counties to take proactive measures to plan to increase the housing supply.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing instead of requiring each county to include the county's housing supply plan in its general plan;

(2) Inserting appropriations of unspecified amounts for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to each county for the preparation and execution of its housing supply plan;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 517, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 517, 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