STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3712

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 2 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ALLOW HAWAIIAN HOMESTEADS TO BE DIRECT RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANTS UNDER THE NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION ACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Congress to provide additional federal funds for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants, designate individual Hawaiian homesteads to be direct recipients of Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants, and identify and secure other forms of direct assistance to the State to address the affordable housing needs of the Native Hawaiian population.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committees find that the Native Hawaiian Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act established a block grant program to transform the way American Indians and Alaska Natives were provided housing. This Act was amended to provide similar funding for Native Hawaiians. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is the designated recipient for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants. Your Committees conclude that designating individual Hawaiian homesteads to be direct recipients of Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants could expedite the effective utilization of the funds and expand affordable housing opportunities for low-income families and individuals living on, or desiring to live on, Hawaiian homesteads.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is urged to assist and train individual Hawaiian homesteads on the technical aspects and processes involved in expending and utilizing Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants;

(2) Removing language urging the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Congress of the United States to designate individual Hawaiian homesteads as direct recipients of Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 2, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing,

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair