STAND. COM. REP. NO. 489-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1752

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Housing Choice Voucher Landlord Incentive Program to provide incentives for landlords to participate in the Tenant-Based Assistance Housing Choice Voucher Program under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, and appropriate funds for incentives under the Program;

(2) Require the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to adopt rules that require inspections of leased dwelling units under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program within fifteen days after receipt of an owner's or landlord's inspection request; and

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for positions within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for inspections and other aspects related to dwelling units that are the subject of applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, St. Michael the Archangel Church, Community Alliance Partners, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Partners In Care, Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS, and Hope Services Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that many low-income persons and families who obtain needed assistance have great difficulty in finding and securing rentals in a high-cost, low-supply housing landscape like Hawaii. This measure provides incentives to encourage increased landlord participation and acceptance of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher System, which is critical given the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic and its impacts on low-income households, and will reduce upfront barriers that prohibit low-income families from accessing existing rental housing and housing assistance.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1752, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair