Bill Text: HI SB2623 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2623 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Housing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-24 - Referred to HOU/ETT, WAM. [SB2623 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2623-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2623
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HOUSING.

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

SECTION 1. In response to the need for affordable rental housing units in Hawaii, the legislature passed Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, to establish an affordable rental housing goal and establish a special action team to make recommendations on actions to promote affordable housing.

Although the overall need for affordable housing is acute, the shortage of housing for extremely low-income households is particularly alarming. For example, according to the 2017 Annual Action Plan submitted by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, extremely low-income households account for over eighty-five per cent of the households on the Hawaii public housing authority's waitlists. As of March 31, 2017, 10,793 of the 11,783 households on the public housing waitlist met the federal definition of extremely low-income and 5,719 of the 6,666 households on the section 8 waitlist met the federal definition of extremely low-income.

The legislature finds that targeted policies and strategies may need to be implemented by the state government to increase the supply of affordable housing to meet the demand of extremely low-income households.

The purpose of this Act is to create a task force that will make recommendations on policies, strategies, and actions to promote the development of housing for extremely low-income households.

SECTION 2. Definitions. For the purpose of this Act:

"Area median income" means the most current median family income for an area as estimated and adjusted for family size by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Extremely low-income household" means a household whose income does not exceed the higher of the federal poverty level or thirty per cent of area median income.

"Household" includes a household of one individual.

SECTION 3. (a) There is established for administrative purposes within the department of business, economic development, and tourism a task force on housing for extremely low-income households.

(b) The task force is established for the purpose of providing guidance to the legislature on developing affordable housing for extremely low-income households.

(c) The task force shall serve until January 2, 2019; provided that the members of the task force may represent themselves as task force members after January 2, 2019, when testifying or commenting on actions or recommendations of the task force.

(d) The task force shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019. The report shall contain the task force's recommendations on policies, strategies, and actions to be taken by the state government to support the development of housing for extremely low-income households. The report shall also include draft legislation for the development of housing for extremely low-income households.

SECTION 4. Task force membership. (a) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(1) Two members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(2) Two members of the senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(3) A representative from each county, to be appointed by the mayor of the respective county;

(4) The director of public safety;

(5) The executive director of the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation;

(6) The executive director of the Hawaii public housing authority;

(7) The director of human services;

(8) The director of health;

(9) Two members of the public to represent non-profit developers with experience in housing development, one to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(10) Two members of the public to represent for-profit developers with experience in housing development, one to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(11) The chair of the special action team on affordable rental housing established pursuant to Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016;

(12) One of the co-chairs of the Hawaii interagency council for transit-oriented development; and

(13) The chair of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness.

(b) The task force shall be co-chaired by the two members of the senate and the two members of the house of representatives appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) and (2).

(c) The task force co-chairs shall invite a representative of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to serve as a member of the task force.

(d) A task force member may designate another officer or employee of the member's department or agency or member's representative group to attend one or more meetings in the place of the member. The task force member shall make the designation in writing and submit it to the task force co-chairs before the meeting that the designee is to attend. The designation may apply to more than one meeting or the entire term of the task force. The designation may be withdrawn at any time by written notice to the task force co-chairs.

A designee of a task force member shall have all rights and privileges of the member while serving as a designee.

(e) Members of the task force who are public officers or employees shall receive no additional compensation for service on the task force beyond their normal compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred for service on the task force. No member of the task force shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the task force.

SECTION 5. Appropriation. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for administration and operation of the task force on housing for extremely low-income households.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Task Force; Extremely Low-Income Households; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a temporary task force on rental housing for extremely low-income households. Makes an appropriation.

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