STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1388

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 494

S.D. 2

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 494, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANT AND ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require each county to establish an expedited procedure for approvals of demolition permits for vacant residential properties; and

(2) Allow the Department of Taxation to seek nonjudicial foreclosure sales of vacant and abandoned residential properties with outstanding recorded state tax liens.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two members of the Honolulu City Council, Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Makiki/Lower Punchbowl/Tantalus Neighborhood Board No. 10, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that it is in the public interest to encourage the use of residential properties and reduce the number of vacant and abandoned homes in Hawaii, which may become hazardous and sites for criminal activity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes that the affected agencies are requesting a delayed effective date to enable them to adopt rules.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 494, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 494, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair