STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2883

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2654

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2654 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the cost of housing in the State by clarifying that absent an affirmative acceptance or rejection by a county, a request for dedication of infrastructure to connect an affordable housing project's infrastructure to the county's infrastructure is deemed accepted within sixty days of the dedication request.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Faith Action, and Partners in Housing. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii County Department of Public Works.

Your Committee finds that the cost of housing increases when infrastructure such as roads, right of ways, drainage, and sewers are built by developers and dedicated to the counties, but not accepted by them. This is because the developer remains responsible for maintenance and upkeep as well as liability for any accident that may be attributed to the lack of maintenance. This measure clarifies that the request for dedication for infrastructure is to connect an eligible affordable housing's infrastructure to the county's infrastructure; and authorizes a licensed private building inspector, contracted by the State or a county, to certify compliance with county standards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2654, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2654, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair