Bill Text: HI HB1315 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing Amendments To Article Ix, Section 5, Of The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB1315 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1315-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1315 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
proposing amendments to ARTICLE IX, SECTION 5, OF the CONSTITUTION of the state of hawaii.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the preamble to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii reserves "the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire." Article I, section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii states that "[a]ll persons are free by nature and are equal in their inherent and inalienable rights" and "[a]mong these rights are the enjoyment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the acquiring and possessing of property." In order to preserve these rights, the State must take bold action. The quality of life is diminishing for many residents, particularly the seventy per cent of residents in need of housing whose incomes are at or below eighty per cent of the area median income and who find it exceptionally difficult to buy or rent a home for their families.
The legislature further finds that although Hawaii has had unmet housing needs for decades, today the State is in crisis mode as more people face the challenge of moving out of state or living in multi-household housing to avoid homelessness. The entire State, government at all levels, the private sector, non-profit agencies, and individuals, must focus on creating the supply to meet the demand for housing for all residents. A guaranteed right to housing demonstrates the State's commitment to housing as a basic right and preserves quality of life. Housing for all residents should be as important a priority as the right to a clean and healthful environment, which is already enshrined in the state constitution.
The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article IX, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to require the State to assure that each resident has access to housing, which will become operative only upon legislative action to provide standards and criteria for assuring access to housing.
SECTION 2. Article IX, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:
"HOUSING, [SLUM CLEARANCE,]
DEVELOPMENT
AND REHABILITATION
Section 5. The State shall assure that each resident
of the State has access to housing. The
legislature shall provide standards and criteria to accomplish the foregoing. The State shall have the power to provide
for, or assist in, housing, [slum clearance] the elimination of
blighted areas and the development or rehabilitation of substandard
areas. The exercise of such power is
deemed to be for a public use and purpose."
SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:
"Should the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to require that the State assure that each resident of the State has access to housing, subject to standards and criteria to be provided by the legislature?"
SECTION 4. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution
of the State of Hawaii.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Constitutional Amendment; Access to Housing
Description:
Proposes an amendment to article IX, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, to require the State to assure that each resident of the State has access to housing, subject to standards and criteria to be provided by the legislature.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
