STAND. COM. REP. NO. 582-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2378

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2378 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

(1) Requiring counties to establish procedures for expediting the approval of permits to demolish vacant and abandoned residential structures; and

(2) Allowing the Department of Taxation to institute nonjudicial foreclosures on vacant and abandoned residential structures with an outstanding recorded state tax lien.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation.

Your Committee 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 Hawaii, which may become hazardous and sites for criminal activity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Defining "vacant and abandoned";

(2) Deleting language providing that liens existing for three years or more may be enforced by the State Tax Collector by foreclosure without suit;

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

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2378, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2378, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair