STAND. COM. REP. NO. 112

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 757

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 757 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a shelter in place pilot program to provide a subsidy, including grants, loans, and no-interest loans, to low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters that are at risk of losing their home or rental due to a job loss or loss of work hours.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one county agency, two private organizations, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure is one of many under consideration by the Legislature in response to severe shortages of affordable housing in Hawaii.  Your Committee is concerned that a long-term economic crisis will further worsen what is already a challenging housing market for Hawaii residents.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the federal economic stimulus legislation may provide some funding for initiatives such as those in the shelter in place program and encourages further legislative discussions on the proposal in this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Placing the pilot program under the Hawaii Public Housing Authority; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to contract for services to implement the project, which will allow the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to respond in a more timely manner.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 757, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 757, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

		____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair