Bill Text: HI SB2002 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Housing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-17 - Referred to HOU/WTL, EDU/HRE, WAM. [SB2002 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2002-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2002
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to HOUSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that challenges, such as the high cost of housing and limited available, affordable housing options contribute to lower college graduation rates, especially for low-income and first-generation college students.  Limited affordable housing options also contribute to the shortage of teachers and staff at public schools and colleges, as wages are often insufficient to meet the State's high cost of living.  According to a 2015 report on housing insecurity for United States college students, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the average cost of room and board for an in-state college student at a public, four-year college accounted for more than half of the student's living expenses and that the average cost of room and board for an in-state college student at a public, two-year college accounted for over two-thirds of the student's living expenses.  The report further found that the cost of housing, which has steadily increased during the past twenty-five years, is a major part of a college student's living expenses, and that many students struggle to find adequate, affordable housing options near their campus.  

     The legislature further finds that there is a need for affordable housing for teachers and staff of public educational institutions.  Currently, the teachers' housing program administered by the department of education is only intended to provide temporary housing for teachers in rural areas that have limited affordable housing opportunities.  According to a 2023 Civil Beat article, there are currently fifty-one rentable teacher housing units available for rent statewide, none of which are located on Oahu or Kauai.  The legislature notes that Act 172, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, appropriated $170,000,000 for both fiscal year 2023-2024 and fiscal year 2024-2025 to the school facilities authority, in part, for the construction of housing prioritized for teachers, educators, and staff, in an effort to recruit and retain qualified teachers in the State.

     The legislature believes that the State should urgently increase the inventory of affordable housing for college students and teachers and staff of public educational institutions in the State.  One obstacle to achieving this urgent need can be environmental assessments that can take a substantial amount of time to complete.  Exempting housing developments that are reserved for college students and teachers and staff of public educational institutions from undergoing an environmental assessment can help address the urgent need for the construction of affordable housing targeted for these individuals.  Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to exempt certain housing projects from environmental assessment requirements.

     SECTION 2.  Section 343-5.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§343-5.5[]]  Exception to applicability of chapter.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for any primary action that requires a permit or approval that is not subject to a discretionary consent and that involves a secondary action that is ancillary and limited to the installation, improvement, renovation, construction, or development of infrastructure within an existing public right-of-way or highway, that secondary action shall be exempt from this chapter; provided that the applicant for the primary action shall submit documentation from the appropriate agency confirming that no further discretionary approvals are required.

     (b)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the development, improvement, construction, or renovation of a housing project shall be exempt from this chapter; provided that the housing project is:

     (1)  Directly controlled and managed by the university of Hawaii system for the exclusive purpose of housing its students, faculty, or staff;

     (2)  Located on land owned by, or leased to, the university of Hawaii system, and developed by the university for the exclusive purpose of housing its students, faculty, or staff;

     (3)  Located on land to which the school facilities authority holds title for the exclusive purpose of housing department of education teachers, educators, and staff; or

     (4)  Directly controlled and managed by the department of education pursuant to section 302A-832.

     [(b)] (c)  As used in this section:

     "Discretionary consent" means:

     (1)  An action as defined in section 343-2; or

     (2)  An approval from a decision-making authority in an agency, which approval is subject to a public hearing.

     "Infrastructure" includes waterlines and water facilities, wastewater lines and wastewater facilities, gas lines and gas facilities, drainage facilities, electrical, communications, telephone, and cable television utilities, and highway, roadway, and driveway improvements.

     "Primary action" means an action outside of the highway or public right-of-way that is on private property.

     "Secondary action" means an action involving infrastructure within the highway or public right-of-way."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Affordable Housing; College Student Housing; Teacher Housing; Educational Staff Housing; Environmental Assessments; Exemption

 

Description:

Exempts certain housing projects reserved for certain students, faculty, and staff of public educational institutions from environmental assessment requirements.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.