STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2114

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2068

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2068 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to rehabilitate, remodel, renovate, and repair an unspecified number of housing units, without regard to the civil service law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Partners In Care, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association (AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO), and United Public Workers (AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO).

Your Committee finds that many public housing units in the State were constructed over fifty years ago.  HPHA has a current capital improvement backlog upwards of $800,000,000, and additional funding is needed to keep public housing units safe, decent, and sanitary for habitation.  Your Committee recognizes that the amount of federal subsidies HPHA is eligible to receive depends on the occupancy of certain public housing units. This measure will therefore help prepare vacant units for immediate occupancy to further assist the State in addressing its ongoing housing crisis.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $10,500,000 for the rehabilitation, remodel, renovation, and repair of one hundred fifty-five units; and

(2) Deleting language that would have authorized HPHA to contract out the repair and maintenance of the units without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2068, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2068, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair