STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2272

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2399

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2399 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENTAL DISCRIMINATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit discrimination in rental transactions based on participation in any government rental assistance program, including low-income housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (Section 8).

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Partners in Care Oahu, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association of REALTORS and one individual.

Your Committee finds there is an overwhelming need to assist low-income families in our communities. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is one of the federal government's major programs for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Unfortunately, however, many landlords are reluctant to rent to individuals who receive housing assistance due to negative stereotypes or stigmas. Honolulu remains one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States that does not have state or local discrimination prohibitions in place to protect families utilizing rental assistance programs. Accordingly, this measure will help enable households receiving housing assistance to apply for rentals and be evaluated on the same tenancy qualifications as other applicants instead of being judged only on their participation in an assistance program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2399 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair