STAND. COM. REP. NO. 297

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 1325

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1325 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONVEYANCE TAX,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that 12.5% of the conveyance tax is distributed to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii for the purpose of providing homeless assistance.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Institute for Human Services, Inc. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Special Assistant to the Governor for Housing and Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that there needs to be a dedicated source of funds for the Homeless Assistance Program. Over the past few years, the program has been reduced by $1.3 million. To provide some relief, the legislature two years ago appropriated $600,000 to benefit the statewide shelter program. This additional funding will end, with the program once again seeking to secure funds. Thus, your Committees want to establish permanent funds to be dedicated to providing homeless assistance.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Increasing the amount to 25 per cent;

(2) Earmarking the 25 per cent from the conveyance taxes paid into the general fund; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1325, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1325, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair