Bill Text: HI HB557 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Infrastructure Program; Grants to Municipalities and Towns

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB557 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB557-Introduced.html

---

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	557
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to economic development.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-    Infrastructure program.  (a)  There is established within the corporation an infrastructure program.  The program shall have the authority to:

     (1)  Make grants in its discretion to municipalities for: design; construction; building; land acquisition; rehabilitation; repair; and other improvements to publicly-owned infrastructure, including but not limited to: sewers; utility extensions; streets; roads; curb cuts; parking; water treatment systems; telecommunications systems; transit improvements; and pedestrian and bicycle ways;

     (2)  Make grants in its discretion for commercial and residential transportation and infrastructure development, improvements, and various capital investment projects under the growth districts initiative administered by the corporation;

     (3)  Make grants in its discretion to match other public and private funding sources to build or rehabilitate transit-oriented housing located within one-quarter-mile of a bus transit station or ferry terminal or one-half mile of a rail transit station; provided that at least fifty per cent of such housing shall be affordable housing; and

     (4)  Assist municipalities in developing and advancing projects that support job creation and expansion, housing developments and rehabilitation, community development, and small-town transportation projects; provided that projects supporting smart growth as defined by the State's sustainable development principles shall be preferred.

     (b)  Grants made pursuant to this section shall only be for projects affecting publicly-owned infrastructure located on public land.  Projects using grants made pursuant to this section shall be procured by a municipality.

     (c)  The corporation shall provide at least one open solicitation period every year to accept and consider grant applications.  Not less than twelve weeks before each open solicitation period, the corporation shall release to the public the criteria for the acceptance of applications.  The criteria shall include the following:

     (1)  A minimum project readiness standard;

     (2)  Overall spending targets by project type;

     (3)  Preferences for projects that adopt the State's sustainable development principles; and

     (4)  Any other preferences or criteria the corporation deems necessary or desirable.

Grants may be made outside of the open solicitation period at the discretion of the executive director.  The corporation shall consult with the appropriate regional planning agency prior to making a grant.

     (d)  An eligible municipality, acting by and through its officers or by and through any agency designated by municipal officers to act on their behalf, may apply for a grant in a specific amount to fund a specified project.  Two or more municipalities may apply jointly with one municipality acting as fiscal agent or through a regional planning agency acting as fiscal agent.  Grants made under this section may be in addition to other forms of local, state, and federal assistance received by the municipality.

     (e)  At least ten per cent of the grant funds made annually by the corporation shall be to assist towns with populations of twenty thousand or less in undertaking projects to design, construct, reconstruct, widen, resurface, rehabilitate, and improve roads or bridges or for the construction of agricultural facilities that support economic or community development.  Grants to such towns shall not exceed $1,000,000 and no town shall receive more than one grant every three fiscal years.  Two or more towns eligible under this subsection may file a joint application for a single project serving those towns; provided that the total amount distributed to any one town shall not exceed the maximum amount allowed under this subsection.  A town's receipt of a grant pursuant to a joint application shall not preclude it from receiving additional funds under a separate application.

     (f)  The executive director shall establish rules in accordance with chapter 91 to govern the application for and approval of grants under the program.  The rules shall include provisions for joint applications by two or more eligible municipalities for a single project serving those municipalities.

     (g)  The executive director shall include in its annual report to the legislature, pursuant to section 201H-21(3), the activities and status of the program.  The report shall include a list and description of all projects that received grant funds under the program and for each project shall provide the following information:

     (1)  The amount of the grant received;

     (2)  Any other sources of public funds that supported the project;

     (3)  A detailed analysis of the economic impact of the project including, where applicable, the number of construction and full-time equivalent jobs to be created, number of housing units to be created, and identification of any private investment in the project; and

     (4)  Tax revenues expected to be generated from the project."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Infrastructure Program; Grants to Municipalities and Towns

 

Description:

Establishes an infrastructure program within the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to make grants and provide assistance to municipalities for infrastructure projects on public land.  Requires at least ten percent of grants be made to towns with populations of twenty thousand or less.  Requires the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to adopt rules pertaining to the application for and approval of grants.  Requires the executive director of the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to report annually to 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.