STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1603

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 835

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 835, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist pineapple plantation workers affected by the closing of Del Monte Fresh Produce. 

 

     Specifically, this measure establishes a program for low-interest loans and grants for home acquisition and property rehabilitation for affected plantation workers.  This measure also establishes a rental assistance program and provides supportive services to prepare displaced or affected workers for homeownership.

 

     Your Committees received written testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the ILWU Local 142.

 

     Your Committees find that the closing of Del Monte Fresh Produce will have a significant adverse affect on the pineapple plantation workers, as many workers and their families live in plantation homes owned by the company.  With the closing of Del Monte Fresh Produce, many workers will find themselves undergoing a transition period during which they must continue to find a way to support themselves and their families.  The intent of this measure is to assist the workers affected by the closing with supportive services, low-interest loans, and rental assistance.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure, based upon the collaborative effort of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the ILWU Local 142, by:

 

     (1)  Removing language establishing the Pineapple Workers and Retirees Housing Revolving Fund;

 

     (2)  Amending the Pineapple Workers and Retirees Rental Housing Fund by changing it into the Pineapple Workers and Retirees Housing Assistance fund in order to provide mortgage payments or rent subsidies for affected workers; and

 

     (3)  Removing the homeownership counseling program. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 835, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 835, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing and Ways and Means,

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair