STAND. COM. REP. NO. 704

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 898

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 898, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to temporarily expand the State Rent Supplement Program to provide additional assistance to qualified persons who are sixty-two years of age or older and homeless, or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Disability and Communication Access Board, AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Partners in Care, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that rising costs and elders' fixed incomes make elders especially vulnerable to homelessness. The rent assistance program established by this measure will help ensure that the State's at-risk kupuna have access to safe and affordable housing.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority estimates that an appropriation of approximately $1,000,000 and the creation of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Housing Specialist II position will be needed to serve approximately two hundred fifty households.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 898, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 898, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair