STAND. COM. REP. NO.  287

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 888

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 888 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ON PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide a more streamlined process regarding the disposal of abandoned property at state low-income housing projects by establishing a process whereby the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) may sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of property that is abandoned or seized in or around any state low-income housing project, subject to certain conditions.

 

     The Department of Human Services and HPHA supported this measure.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Extending the length of time for notice by certified mail, from at least five calendar days to at least fifteen calendar days, during which HPHA must notify the owner of property prior to its disposing of the abandoned or seized property;

 

(2)  Eliminating the condition that a person must first pay all unpaid rent, debts, charges, and fines owed to HPHA and all handling, storage, appraisal, advertising, and other expenses incurred in connection with the proposed disposition of abandoned or seized property in order to repossess the property;

 

(3)  Removing the provisions limiting the remedies available to an owner of abandoned or seized property; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 888, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 888, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair