STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2726

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2255

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2255 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER RENTAL HOUSING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist the Department of Education in developing teacher housing projects by contract or sponsorship with any state department or agency;

(2) Appropriate funds for deposit into the dwelling unit revolving fund;

(3) Require the Department of Education to lease land and contract with private entities for the development, management, maintenance, or revitalization of teacher housing; and

(4) Permit a project owner to lease teacher housing to other eligible tenants if occupancy of teacher housing falls below ninety per cent.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, State Public Charter Schools Commission, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, and Hawaii State Teachers Association. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation and a private individual.

Your Committees recognize the value of developing cost-effective teacher housing as part of the State's ongoing effort to address the chronic teacher shortage. Hawaii's high cost of living and limited stock of affordable housing has long been significant obstacles to the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers. Creating affordable teacher housing, especially in areas of high need, will help to provide equitable access to quality education for all students.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting provisions two authorizing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to provide rental housing to teachers employed by the Department of Education and public charter schools;

(2) Inserting a blank appropriation for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the purposes of this Act; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2255, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2255, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair