STAND. COM. REP. NO.  534

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1364

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1364 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to expand participation in the State Rent Supplement Program (Program) by removing the $160 per month cap on payments and expanding the income limits.

 

     The Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) testified in support of this bill.  Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Hawaii Family Forum, and Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii supported this measure with amendments.

 

     Your Committee finds that this is a very worthy program and publicity should be increased to allow for more participation.  Additionally, your Committee respectfully requests HPHA to consider contracting with a private entity to administer the Program.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Allowing individuals and families living in transitional shelters, who are homeless, or on the public housing and section 8 wait lists to be eligible to be included in the Program wait list;

 

     (2)  Requiring the income limit for Program eligibility to be up to 70 percent of the area median income; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1364, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1364, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair