STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3350

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 17

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 17 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE THE STATE'S RENTAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE TO HOUSING OWNERS WHO RENT OR LEASE TO QUALIFIED KUPUNA A MORTGAGE PROPERTY WITHIN DESIGNATED LAVA ZONES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to utilize the State's Rental Supplement Program to provide homeowners insurance premium assistance to housing owners who rent or lease to qualified kupuna a mortgaged property within designated lava zones.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

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

Your Committees find that housing in the lava zones was once an affordable option for many residents, but the growing insurance expenses have resulted in higher rents being charged in the area to offset the insurance increases. Your Committees also find that the high cost of living in the State, fixed income and complex health needs of older adults, rapidly increasing rents, and the declining availability of affordable housing make rental assistance for qualifying older adults a necessity. Therefore, this measure requests help to provide homeowners insurance premium assistance to housing owners who rent or lease to qualified kupuna to reduce their rent costs.

Your Committees note the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's request for an appropriation should this program be implemented.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 17 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair