[§356D-13.2]  Housing choice voucher landlord incentive program.  (a)  The authority shall adopt rules, without regard to chapter 91, to establish the following incentives for landlords participating in the tenant-based assistance housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f):

     (1)  The landlord may be reimbursed up to one month of rent at the contract rate when the dwelling unit sits vacant:

          (A)  Between rentals to tenants participating in the section 8 housing choice voucher program; or

          (B)  When the landlord initially transitions the dwelling unit to a rental under the section 8 housing choice voucher program; and

     (2)  The landlord may receive a signing bonus of up to one month of rent at the contract rate when the landlord first joins the section 8 housing choice voucher program by entering into a contract with the authority and securing a tenant participating in the section 8 housing choice voucher program for the dwelling unit; provided that a landlord receiving the signing bonus shall not also receive reimbursement under paragraph (1)(B).

     (b)  The incentives in subsection (a) shall supplement the incentive offered under the section 8 housing choice voucher landlord incentive program established pursuant to Act 215, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, to reimburse landlords who participate in the section 8 housing choice voucher landlord incentive program for repair costs of tenant-caused property damage when the repair costs exceed the tenant's security deposit.

     (c)  The following requirements shall apply to the reimbursement for repair costs:

     (1)  The landlord shall submit a claim to the authority within thirty calendar days of the tenant vacating the dwelling unit;

     (2)  The authority may reimburse the landlord up to an amount to be determined by the authority for verified costs to repair the tenant-caused property damage, subject to availability of funding; provided that the costs of repair shall exceed the security deposit; and

     (3)  Claims that exceed an amount to be determined by the authority shall include an estimate from a licensed contractor setting forth the costs to repair the damages caused by the tenant to the dwelling unit. [L 2022, c 287, §2]