STAND. COM. REP. NO. 218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 7

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 7 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to give the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation the right of first refusal on any transfer of a property interest on state lands within a one-half mile radius of a rail transit station, excluding any lands owned or controlled by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority or Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Your Committees find that Hawaii has a housing crisis and the development of affordable housing is of paramount importance. Providing the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation with the opportunity to obtain control and develop affordable housing on state lands within a one-half mile radius of a rail transit station will advance the efforts to end the housing crisis.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 7 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair