Bill Text: HI HB2327 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Affordable Housing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-07 - The committee(s) on HSG recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB2327 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2327-Introduced.html
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2327 |
|
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to affordable housing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's shortage of affordable housing continues to be one of the State's most challenging social problems. A persistently low inventory of housing stock has created a market where local residents have consistently been priced out of rentals and unable to attain homeownership.
One opportunity to increase the State's stock of affordable housing units is by renovating an existing building at 1021 Smith Street in Chinatown, Honolulu, to include rental housing. This project would create sixty affordable, single-room rental units with communal kitchens and restrooms. The project would target households having an income that does not exceed sixty per cent of the area median income, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the units would be required to remain affordable for at least sixty years.
The legislature further finds that the State must examine all opportunities to invest in the creation and preservation of affordable housing, especially in urban centers. The legislature further finds that the renovation of 1021 Smith Street represents an exceptional opportunity to create a large number of long-term, affordable rental housing units in the heart of Honolulu's urban core. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the State to share in the costs of creating affordable rental housing at 1021 Smith Street.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to the Hawaii public housing authority to partner with the property owner of 1021 Smith Street in Honolulu, Oahu, or the property owner's agents, to share in the costs of creating sixty units of affordable rental housing.
SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii public housing authority may enter into a contract with property owner of 1021 Smith Street in Honolulu, Oahu, or the property owner's agents, to share in the costs to alter, remodel, repair, rehabilitate, and reconstruct the existing buildings and fixtures at 1021 Smith Street to create sixty units of affordable rental housing.
(b) Each rental housing unit shall be affordable to households having an income that does not exceed per cent of the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided that the project shall target households having an income that does not exceed sixty per cent of the area median income.
(c) Before any unit at 1021 Smith Street is offered for rent, the property owner shall file a restrictive covenant running with the land providing that each rental unit shall remain affordable pursuant to subsection (b) for at least sixty years from the date a certificate of occupancy applicable to the unit is issued.
(d) Notwithstanding section 103D-302(h), Hawaii Revised Statutes, or any other law to the contrary, contracts awarded pursuant to this Act shall be exempt from any law requiring a contract to be awarded to the lowest bidder.
SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ , or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $6,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Hawaii public housing authority to partner with the property owner of 1021 Smith Street in Honolulu, Oahu, or the property owner's agents, to alter, remodel, repair, rehabilitate, and reconstruct the existing buildings and fixtures at 1021 Smith Street for affordable rental housing purposes as provided in section 2 of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Affordable Housing; HPHA; Long-Term Rental Housing; 1021 Smith Street; Appropriation; General Fund Expenditure Ceiling Exceeded
Description:
Authorizes the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to partner with the property owner of 1021 Smith Street in Honolulu, Oahu, to create 60 units of affordable rental housing at that site. Requires units to be affordable to households having an income that does not exceed an unspecified percentage of the area median income, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, for at least 60 years. Exempts contracts from low-bid requirements. Appropriates moneys. Declares that the appropriation exceeds the state general fund expenditure ceiling for 2024‑2025.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
