STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1413

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1413, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of property abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects;

(2) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to notify the known owner of the abandoned or seized property; and

(3) Establish procedures for persons entitled to the abandoned or seized property.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that property is sometimes abandoned at or seized from federal public housing projects in the State, creating situations where responsibility for the disposition of these items is unclear and potentially impairing other residents' ability to fully utilize housing project spaces. This measure will address this issue by clarifying that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority has the discretion to determine how to properly manage abandoned or seized property, including throwing the property away, donating it, or selling it at a public auction. This measure will also clarify the rights of the owners of the abandoned or seized property, creating a transparent process for reclamation and rules regarding forfeiture.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1413, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair