STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2113-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 178

      S.D. 1

      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 Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 178, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION AND THE ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS, TO CONTRACT THE REVIEW OF PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Division and the Island Burial Councils, to contract its review of proposed affordable housing projects to third-party consultants and submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; and County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State's housing crisis requires immediate action to expedite the development and delivery of additional housing units, particularly low-income and affordable housing units.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is actively working on a number of improvements that will expedite its reviews of proposed affordable housing projects and the various review processes under the State's historic preservation program.

 

     Your Committee notes that this measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into contracts with third-party consultants; however, in the absence of funds it will be impossible for the Department to execute any contracts with a third-party consultant.  According to testimony received by the Department, neither it nor the State Historic Preservation Division has funds to enter into such contracts and related funding is not included in the Governor's budget request for the coming fiscal year.

 

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Division and the Island Burial Councils, to create an expedited process to contract its review of proposed affordable housing projects to third-party consultants, rather than requesting the Department to immediately contract with third-party consultants;

 

     (2)  Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to consider certain suggestions when creating the expedited process, rather than requesting the Department to take specific steps when executing contracts;

 

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

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 178, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 178, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair