STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1405-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2504

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Housing Choice Voucher Landlord Incentive Program to provide incentives for landlords to participate in the Tenant—Based Assistance Housing Choice Voucher Program under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and appropriate funds for these incentives;

(2) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to adopt or amend rules that require inspections of leased dwelling units under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program within fifteen days after receipt of an owner's or landlord's inspection request; and

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for positions within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for inspections and other aspects related to dwelling units that are the subject of applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Partners In Care, and Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that low-income individuals and families experience great difficulty in finding affordable rentals due to the lack of affordable rental housing units in Hawaii. Your Committee also finds that reimbursement incentives and protections against excessive property damage helps increase the inventory of affordable housing in the State by encouraging more landlords to participate in rental housing voucher programs. Your Committee further finds that a more extensive approach to incentivizing participation in rental housing voucher programs is necessary to effectively address the lack of affordable housing inventory in the State. Incentives that encourage increased landlord participation in and acceptance of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will reduce upfront barriers that prohibit low-income individuals and families from accessing rental housing.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair