STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2920

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3332

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EVICTION MEDIATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an alternative eviction process for tenants on Maui who are unable to pay rent due to losses resulting from the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a pre-litigation mediation requirement and process for tenancies on Maui; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for a rent relief program to help tenants avoid eviction and to maintain stable tenancies.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Office of Economic Revitalization of the City and County of Honolulu; Kuikahi Mediation Center; The Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc.; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Mediation Centers of Hawaii; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and nine individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Realtors, and Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice.

Your Committees find that the alternative eviction process established by this measure will help to reduce the number of evictions and burden on the courts following the termination of the Governor's final emergency proclamation containing an eviction moratorium for Maui tenants affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of the term "final eviction moratorium" and clarifying that the Governor may reinstate or issue a new emergency proclamation that contains a prohibition against residential evictions; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3332, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair