STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2992

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2037

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2037, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to restrict any county from disapproving or imposing certain conditions on a housing development project for housing or an emergency shelter unless the county meets certain requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one member of the Maui County Council.

Your Committee finds that over the past four years, the Governor has used emergency proclamations to address homelessness by accelerating construction of housing projects. Through the use of proclamations, a total of 354 new permanent housing units were produced and set aside for individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. Your Committee further finds that emergency proclamations are not intended to be extended indefinitely and measures are needed to streamline housing development without the use of emergency declarations. This measure will help expedite the production of housing development projects or emergency shelters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of August 26, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 S.B. No. 2037, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2037, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair