STAND. COM. REP. NO. 86-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2411

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 Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2411 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Add to the amount of funding previously appropriated for monthly housing subsidies under the state Rent Supplement Program; and

(2) Establish additional staffing positions for the Rent Supplement Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Partners in Care, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, and Catholic Charities Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that it is vital to many state residents to continue support for "shallow subsidy" programs, particularly the Hawaii Public House Authority's Rent Supplement Program (Program). The Program allow participants to redirect their limited resources to essential living expenses such as food, medical care, transportation, and utilities, rather than committing a substantial portion of their income to the payment of rent. The Program's authorized range of rent supplement payments is $25 to $500 per month. Your Committee further finds that the cost of funding the Program is relatively low, particularly when considering the substantial benefits to the participants. Given the high-price rental market in Hawaii, your Committee believes it is critical to sustain the Program at an expanded level.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that any sums appropriated for the Program shall be included in the base budget of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) By 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 Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2411, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2411, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair