STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3110

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2654

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. 2654, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize a licensed private building inspector, contracted by the State or county, to certify compliance with county standards; and

(2) Provide that the request for dedication for infrastructure to connect an eligible affordable housing's infrastructure to the county's infrastructure, if not otherwise accepted or rejected, is deemed accepted within sixty days of the request.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii and Faith Action for Community Equity. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Department of Public Works, County of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that despite expedited processes adopted with regard to the review of proposed affordable housing projects, that delays often occur when counties fail to accept the dedication of infrastructure in a timely manner. This measure would increase the State's housing supply for its residents by automatically accepting a request for dedication of infrastructure to connect an affordable housing project's infrastructure to the county's infrastructure within sixty days of the request, absent an affirmative acceptance or rejection by a county.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of June 18, 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. 2654, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2654, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair