Report Title:

Housing; Pineapple Employees and Retirees

 

Description:

Establishes a program for low interest loans and grants for home acquisition and rehabilitation for displaced or affected pineapple plantation workers caused by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce.  Establishes a rental assistance program for rental of safe, decent, and sanitary units for the displaced or affected workers in the private market.  Provides supportive services to prepare displaced or affected workers for homeownership.  Makes appropriations.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

835

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to housing.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce will have a significant adverse effect on pineapple workers.  Housing ranks among their primary concerns.  Currently, many employees, retirees, and their families live in plantation homes owned by the company at the Kunia camp and by Hawaiian Island Homes at the Poamoho camp.  With the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce, many of these families face the possibility of losing their homes.  Housing is a fundamental need, to which every person should have access.

     With the loss of their jobs, many employees and retirees will undergo a transition period as they seek new employment, participate in job training programs, or seek other opportunities.  While employee incomes may be greatly diminished, employees and retirees must continue to make their housing payments and meet other living expenses.  Many former employees and retirees in transition may find it difficult to qualify for loans under conventional loan-writing standards.

     The purpose of this Act is to assist Kunia and Poamoho pineapple employees and retirees in danger of losing their homes by:

     (1)  Establishing a program of low-interest loans and grants for home acquisition and rehabilitation;

     (2)  Establishing a rental assistance program for rental of safe, decent, and sanitary units in the private market; and

     (3)  Providing supportive services to prepare current renters for homeownership.

PART I

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-A  Pineapple employees and retirees housing revolving fund; established.  (a)  There is established in the state treasury the pineapple employees and retirees housing revolving fund to provide low-interest loans or grants for:

     (1)  The acquisition, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of existing homes in the Kunia and Poamoho camps; and

     (2)  Assistance to employees and retirees of Del Monte Fresh Produce acquiring housing elsewhere,

who are displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and who have been denied loans from traditional financial institutions.  The pineapple employees and retirees housing revolving fund shall be administered by the corporation.

     (b)  Low-interest loans may be made to nonprofit organizations that assist pineapple workers or retirees displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce.

     (c)  The rate of interest on loans executed pursuant to this section shall not exceed three per cent per year.  Interest earnings on loans made pursuant to this section may be used for administrative and other expenses necessary for administering the loan program.  Guidelines shall be established by the corporation with respect to loan terms and loan qualification criteria.  Moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be deposited into the pineapple employees and retirees housing revolving fund; provided that upon fulfillment of the purposes of this section, all unencumbered moneys shall lapse into the general fund.

     (d)  The corporation shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

     SECTION 3.  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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for deposit into the pineapple employees and retirees housing revolving fund established under section 201H-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide low-interest loans or grants for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of homes in the Kunia and Poamoho camps and to assist other pineapple workers or retirees displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and to fund related activities.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART II

     SECTION 4.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-B  Pineapple employees and retirees rental housing fund; established.  (a)  There is established in the state treasury the pineapple employees and retirees rental housing fund to make annual payments to a landlord to provide rent subsidies for eligible Del Monte Fresh Produce pineapple workers and retirees and their families who are displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and are seeking safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private market.  The pineapple employees and retirees rental housing fund shall be administered by the corporation.

     (b)  Moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be deposited into the pineapple employees and retirees rental housing fund; provided that upon fulfillment of the purposes of this section, all unencumbered moneys shall lapse into the general fund. Guidelines shall be established by the corporation with respect to eligible Del Monte Fresh Produce pineapple workers and retirees and rental assistance payments under this section.

     (c)  The corporation shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

     SECTION 5.  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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for deposit into the pineapple employees and retirees rental housing fund established under section 201H-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide rent subsidies for eligible Del Monte Fresh Produce pineapple workers and retirees and their families who are displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce and are seeking safe, decent, and sanitary housing in the private market.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART III

     SECTION 6.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-C  Pineapple employees and retirees homeownership counseling program; established.  (a)  There is established within the corporation the pineapple employees and retirees homeownership counseling program to provide pineapple workers and retirees who are displaced or affected by the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce with homebuyer education and counseling.

     (b)  The corporation may secure the services of a public or private entity to carry out the purposes of this section."

     SECTION 7.  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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to effectuate the pineapple employee and retirees homeownership counseling program established under section 201H‑C, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

     SECTION 8.  In codifying the new sections added by this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 9.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 10.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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