STAND. COM. REP. NO. 524

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 497

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 497, 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 require and appropriate funds to the School Facilities Authority to conduct a feasibility study for the development of teacher and workforce housing at the Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School property.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the School Facilities Authority, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that several factors that have led to the teacher shortage in Hawaii include the high cost of living and access to affordable housing. Your Committee also finds that the provision of affordable housing to teachers in Hawaii is a critical component in the recruitment and retention of teachers in Hawaii's public schools. To increase the inventory of affordable housing units, underutilized state facilities should be reassessed and repurposed for housing purposes. Your Committee notes that in 2011, the Board of Education closed Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School, a 2.67 acre parcel that is in proximity to seven public schools. Your Committee believes that the former Queen Liliuokalani School should be considered for redevelopment for teacher and workforce housing and serve as a model for other state facilities to be repurposed for housing.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

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JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair