CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 97

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 9

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 9, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to adopt rules, without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to reimburse section 8 landlords for repair costs of tenant-caused property damage under certain circumstances; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the reimbursement program and to establish one full-time equivalent position to assist and administer the reimbursement program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the section 8 program is one of the federal government's major programs for assisting very low income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the section 8 program currently brings in approximately $32,680,000 a year on the island of Oahu, which supports over 2,337 families and over 6,400 individuals. There is an overwhelming need in the State to assist low-income families and individuals obtain affordable housing. Your Committee on Conference believes that providing financial protection for property owners and landlords will incentivize more property owners and landlords to participate in the section 8 housing voucher program, thereby creating more housing opportunities for those who need it most.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $450,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 to reimburse landlords participating in the section 8 housing choice voucher program for repair costs of certain tenant-caused property damage;

(2) Deleting language that would have authorized the funds appropriated to be used to establish one full-time equivalent position to assist and administer the reimbursement program;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2019; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 9, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 9, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ TOM BROWER Co-Chair	____________________________ STANLEY CHANG Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair